Man sentenced for taking $600,000

A Portales man convicted of taking more than $600,000 from an armored car service where he worked last year has been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison.

State District Judge Teddy Hartley also ordered Scott Kirby, 23, to repay the money that was not recovered, 9th Judicial District Attorney Matthew Chandler said Wednesday.

Kirby pleaded guilty Oct. 12 to a second-degree felony charge of embezzlement over $20,000. Two counts of disposal of stolen property were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Kirby had been employed as an armored truck driver for Albuquerque-based courier company Respond Inc. He was assigned to pick up money from businesses in Clovis and Portales, including Wal-Mart stores in Clovis and Portales and Chili’s and Applebee’s restaurants in Clovis.

Kirby picked up more than $600,000 in cash and checks the weekend of March 4-5, 2006, but did not deposit it, Chandler said.

He was arrested March 6, 2006, in Portales.

Chandler has said $269,000 in cash was recovered. Chandler said he could not release the amount of restitution because details of the exact amount would be worked out by a civil court in a case between Respond’s insurance carrier and the three defendants in the case.

Two accomplices in the crime, who, according to court documents, were to be paid $20,000 each to help Kirby cover his tracks, were also caught by police.

Chris Adcox, 22, of Clovis and Jeremy Hooker, 23, of Portales are in the Curry County Detention Center awaiting trial.