A Meeker man charged in 2024 with two counts of embezzlement has withdrawn his previous plea of innocent and entered guilty pleas.
The two counts of embezzlement were filed in Lincoln County District Court March 26, 2024 against Mathew Lloyd McRae, 48, of Meeker, doing business as 309 Builders, LLC, 309 Companies, LLC and Crown Construction, LLC.
Appearing recently before District Judge Sarah Bridge, McRae, as thee results of a plea bargain withdrew his previous pleas and entered guilty pleas.
Judge Bridge found him guilty as charged on Count 1 and deferred sentencing for a period of seven years, gave him a $50 judicial assessment, $50 VCA and court costs.
On Count 2, she deferred sentencing for seven years, handed him a $50 judicial assessment, $50 VCA, court costs and ordered him to pay restitution of $243,118 in full that day.
She placed him on supervised probation with the Department of Corrections and he was ordered to report to the Probation Office and the Court Clerk’s Office.
The State Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case and McRae was defended by Carter Jennings.
A $500,000 bench warrant was issued for the arrest of the defendant, owner of a construction company, when charges were filed.
The warrant for McRae’s arrest was returned and filed on April 29 of 2024, court records show.
Appearing before District Judge Sarah Bridge on Nov. 5, 2024 for his arraignment, McRae pleaded not guilty. McRae waived a speedy trial and the judge set his case for disposition on Feb. 18, 2025.
In Count 1, the information states between Aug. 19, 2021 and March 28, 2022 the crime of embezzlement was committed in Lincoln County by McRae doing business as 309 Builders, LLC, 309 Companies, LLC and Crown Construction, LLC.
It alleges the defendant fraudulently appropriated an amount in excess of $15,000 belonging to William Mitchell and which had been entrusted to the defendant as a payment for services and materials to construct a cabin, to the defendant’s own use and benefit, a purpose not intended or authorized by Mitchell.
In Count 2, it stated the defendant fraudulently appropriated an amount in excess of $15,000, belonging to Joy Thompson which had been entrusted to McRae as payment for services and materials to construct two cabins, to the defendant’s own use and benefit, a purpose not intended or authorized by Ms. Thompson.
The charges were filed by the office of State Attorney General Gentner Drummond and according to a probable cause affidavit Agent Justin Hokett of the AG’s Consumer Protection United headed up the investigation.
The two counts allege McRae took a total of $160,453 from the two victims, $33,350 from Thompson and $127,103 from Mitchell.