CASSOPOLIS — An employee of a Dowagiac organization that provides guardianship related services was sentenced to probation, jail and over $36,000 in restitution for stealing from the organization’s clients.

Runyon

Angela Renee Runyon, 44, of Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to three counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult $1,000 to $20,000 and was sentenced to three years probation, 60 days in jail with credit for one day served, $3,324 in fines and costs and $36,755.74 in restitution.

      Runyon was arrested May 16, 2024 in Dowagiac. She was a case manager for the agency and had control over clients’ money.

      The owner of the agency, Guardianships & Alternatives, Inc., spoke before the sentencing. She said that Runyon’s actions have endangered her business and the people they care for.

      “You have never shown any remorse,” she told Runyon. “You didn’t think about how I could lose my business, you didn’t think about how it would impact me and my employees. We protect vulnerable people from people like you. You have jeopardized my business and robbed me of my retirement.”

      The woman noted that it wasn’t just a one time incident but numerous occasions where Runyon stole from the people she was assisting for gambling, entertainment and cruises. 

“I treated you like a friend and you treated us as disposable,” she said. “This has left us betrayed, hurt and deeply disappointed … I urge you to take accountability for what you’ve done.”

      “There’s an old saying that love of money is the root of all evil,” said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. “You love yourself and your money more than other people. You are self-absorbed, you didn’t need to do these things.”

      Fitz likened Runyon’s actions to the story of the scorpion that rides on top of a turtle to cross a lake and then stings the turtle when it gets to the other side. 

“The scorpion said it was just his nature, is this your nature?” he asked Runyon. “What you did was absolutely selfish, these were things you didn’t need to do, you wanted to do them.”

      Feldman said that like other clients he’s had, Runyon’s crimes started with one small transaction that snowballed. He added that if Runyon hasn’t shown remorse before it’s because he advises clients to not apologize during the pendency of their cases.

      He noted that Runyon has a long slow road ahead of her in paying back what she took, but said “the only way to start is to start with step one.”

      “I’m very sorry to everyone this has affected,” Runyon said. “I would like to try to make amends and pay back the money. I’m very sorry, I know I hurt a lot of people.”

      “You made over 150 separate transactions involving over $36,000,” Judge Herman said. “Most of the people you stole from have a marginal existence at best … Everyone you stole from is someone’s father, mother, brother or sister. They deserve to be treated with respect … Either you learn your lesson now or you will go to prison.”

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