A former accountant for Seattle rock legends Pearl Jam has pleaded guilty to felony theft charges, after stealing US$380,000 over a four-year period from the band’s management company, Curtis Management, in addition to using band credit cards to pay for personal expenses.
As The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports, accountant Rickey Charles Goodrich used his position as Chief Financial Officer for Pearl Jam’s management company to steal close to US$400,000 in the four years before being fired by Curtis Management in September 2010.
In addition, Goodrich, a 55-year-old Novato, California resident is alleged to have admitted to owing his former employer hundreds of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, Seattle Police say Goodrich’s thefts have cost the management company $566,000, including investigative expenses.
Goodrich has pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree theft and is due back in court on 21st February for sentencing. Prosecutors are reportedly likely to ask he be sentenced to six months in jail pending repayment of the stolen funds, or face a potential 14-month prison sentence.
Initially facing 33 theft charges over transfers made from company accounts to pay his own debts, Goodrich — hired by Pearl Jam Touring Co in 2005 as the band’s accountant and financial officer controlling all tour finances — used band credit cards to pay for family vacations and wine.
Pearl Jam recently completed their fall North American tour in support of their tenth studio album, Lightning Bolt, released earlier this year. The band will return to touring next month when they head Down Under as part of Big Day Out. Frontman Eddie Vedder will also embark on a solo tour.
(Via hennemusic)
