An individual in a position of trust has access to information and even financial resources that can easily be diverted for personal use when dishonesty is at play. If dishonesty is combined with a drug problem, that position of trust is more than likely headed to destruction.

A Daily Record report focused on a bookkeeper, described as “diabolical” by her victim, a Boonton-based real estate investor. The woman, Jessica C. Ardouin, pleaded guilty to forgery and was sentenced to jail. She will also serve probation and is expected to pay restitution. Her victim, however, is sure he will never recover the more than $43,000 she stole from him.

The victim, Jeremy Doppelt, believes Ardouin is completely capable of committing such acts again. Ardouin is now recovering from a crack cocaine addiction, which she tried to hide from her former employer. When Doppelt found Ardouin passed out a number of times, he accepted her explanation that she had a bad reaction to her bipolar medication.

At the time, Doppelt was unaware of Ardouin’s crack cocaine addiction and even agreed to loan her money when eviction loomed. He later discovered she had written her landlord a check for $3,900 on one of his accounts.

Ardouin now claims she is completely rehabilitated and told the judge that it was the addiction that forced her to do the crime. Doppelt noted that he wishes her well in her recovery, but does not believe she will not strike again.