Steamboat Pilot & Today

One of two women accused of stealing more than $30,000 from the Hampton Inn declined a deal Thursday and pleaded guilty to the original charge, her attorney said.

Attorney Charles Feldmann said Angela Ellen Robinson, 41, of Steamboat Springs might face a harsher sentence after declining the plea agreement.

Robinson was arrested in September on suspicion she embezzled $30,724 while managing the hotel. She was charged with Class 3 felony theft because the amount of money was more than $15,000.

Sandra Yanira McMahon, 43, also of Steamboat, faces a Class 4 felony theft charge. She is accused of stealing between $500 and $15,000. McMahon was the director of housekeeping at the hotel.

Court documents allege the women embezzled the money between Dec. 16, 2004, and Aug. 3 by keeping former employees on the payroll and cashing their checks.

Feldmann said his client told District Judge Paul McLimans during a hearing Thursday that she wouldn't accept the plea offer because she wanted to "tell the truth."

Feldmann said he could not discuss the specifics of the plea agreement.

He said he knew what Robinson was going to do Thursday and had advised her she could be facing harsher penalties by rejecting the plea.

"I told the judge that I have never had a case like this before," he said. "I advised (Robinson) of the consequences of her decision, but she insisted on entering her plea."

Robinson now faces between four and 12 years in prison when she is sentenced in December.

Feldmann said Robinson was surrounded by about a dozen family members and friends in the courtroom when she entered her plea.

"She really wants to take responsibility for her actions," he said. "Since the beginning, she has been adamant about repaying her restitution in the case. "

Feldmann said he hoped McLimans would consider his client's plea during sentencing.

"We hope that we can convince (McLimans) that she can move on from making this one mistake, and that there is still worth in her," he said.

Robinson will be sentenced at 1 p.m. Dec. 27.

--To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234

or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com