Movie Theater Manager Admits to Stealing Cash

Fiesta 5 Theatre manager John Mathieson pleaded no contest to one count of felony embezzlement on Monday, according to a statement released by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

The 35-year-old Santa Barbara resident admitted to stealing almost $5,200 in cash from the movie theater between April 1, 2013 and June 2, 2013. Mathieson also told police detectives he destroyed paperwork to cover up the theft, and the investigation also found that he had disabled theater security cameras.

Mathieson is set to be sentenced November 21. Although he faces a maximum sentence of three years in County Jail, Deputy District Attorney Gary Gemberling said an agreement was made that Mathieson would pay full restitution, be placed on probation for three years, and serve 120 days in jail.

Gemberling added that Mathieson received some jail time credit because he paid $2,000 of the restitution at the time he entered his plea.