lmetz@observer-reporter.com

A Chartiers Township woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to bilking a Houston car dealership out of about $400,000.

While employed as office manager of Arnold Pontiac-GMC, Joyce Piasente, 59, of 121 Roth St., stole money to finance gambling trips with friends and family from 2002 through 2005.

She was in charge of all accounting functions and handled daily deposits.

The dealership owner, Bob Arnold, was unaware of any problems until Nov. 2, 2006, when a representative of General Motors Acceptance Corp. visited the dealership to pick up a $193,000 check for interest charges from the previous month. A wire transfer for the money did not clear.

Arnold then hired a forensic certified public accountant to audit financial transactions. The audit found numerous discrepancies.

When confronted by Arnold, Piasente confessed to taking the money.

She was charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, unlawful use of a computer and securing execution of documents by deception.

On Tuesday, she entered an open plea to the charges before Washington County Judge Janet Moschetta Bell. Piasente offered no statements during the proceeding.

An open plea means that the judge will decide Piasente's sentence. No plea deal has been proposed by the prosecution.

Moschetta Bell ordered a presentence investigation report to be completed by the county's adult probation office. Sentencing will be held following the completion of the report.

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