Post Falls man sentenced for theft

A Post Falls man was sentenced to six years in state prison Wednesday for taking money from a Kootenai County real estate firm.

Jerry A. Hill, 52, was convicted in May of three counts of grand theft for taking more than $350,000 from NW GMAC Real Estate over more than three years, according to a news release from Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh. District Court Judge John Mitchell ordered that the first three years of Hill’s sentence be fixed; the remaining three years will be indeterminate, and Mitchell retained jurisdiction for one year.

Hill, a partner in the firm, was accused of using a company credit card and company funds for personal use, which contributed to the business’s failure, according to the news release. A forensic audit of the firm’s records uncovered the fraud.

Hill was convicted on May 14 but has maintained his innocence, according to the release.