Liquor store manager convicted in theft

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A former Hudson liquor store manager has been convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars while on the job.

Nathan Michael Dusek, 38, Knapp, who began working at Chicone’s Liquors in 1994 and later became manager, pleaded no contest to one count of felony theft in a business setting Thursday afternoon in an agreement that included dismissal of a felony theft by false representation charge and a pledge to significantly contribute to restitution.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered by Judge Scott R. Needham who set a sentencing hearing for May 4 at 3 p.m. The maximum penalty for conviction is a $25,000 fine and a 10-year sentence that includes five years in prison and five years extended supervision. Assistant District Attorney Frank Collins said the state would cap its recommendation at two years.

The criminal complaint said that between Aug. 25, 2002, and Nov. 9, 2010, Dusek falsely recorded returns of large quantities of Miller Lite beer and took cash for false returns from store funds. He told investigators he took cash by creating false returns for 24 packs of the beer and did not apply the amounts to the daily report, which was his duty.

He diverted funds to his own use in amounts of up to $1,500 per week at times, according to the complaint.

A Hudson Police Department report said the total amount over the period of time was more than $394,000.

Charges of OWI-third and operating with PAC-third were filed against Dusek in Dunn County Dec. 12. He was scheduled for an initial appearance Jan. 10 before Judge Rod W. Smeltzer. The charges stemmed from an Oct. 9 stop by a state trooper, according to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access.

Dusek had attended a family member’s wedding the day he was picked up, said defense attorney Mark Gherty.

Tags: news, crime, business, hudson