Daughter of Park City mayor pleads guilty to official misconduct
Amy Sutton, longtime Park City employee and daughter of Mayor Steve Pannell, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one of three counts levied against her in connection with the theft of more than $20,000 from Park City.
As part of a deal worked out between Assistant State's Attorney Fred Day and defense attorney Doug Zeit, Sutton pleaded guilty to official misconduct. Judge Daniel Shanes said official misconduct is a class 3 felony which usually carries a penalty of two to three years in prison.
Instead, Sutton, 50, of Lindenhurst, will apologize, complete community service and pay restitution. The other two charges against her, theft of government property and forgery, were dropped as part of the deal.
According to Day, had Sutton's case gone to trial, Park City officials would have been called to testify that between 2015 and 2018 Sutton used her position as an administrator to write checks to herself.
Pannell, who has been mayor of Park City for 19 years, said in 2018 that his daughter was employed by Park City for 16 years. She has since been fired from her job.
Pannell did not immediately respond to requests for comment on his daughter's plea Tuesday.
The exact amount of money Sutton will have to pay has yet to be determined. Day said his intention was to make Park City whole by having Sutton repay everything she took.
Day told Shanes during the hearing he believed the amount of money owed was $24,067. Zeit told Shanes he believes the amount of money is between $14,000 and $24,000.
"I think I can convince Mr. Day it's the smaller figure, but if not it's 24 (thousand dollars)," Zeit told Shanes. "I don't anticipate that being a holdup."
Sutton will appear before Judge Christopher Stride on March 18 to begin the Alternative Prosecution Program, which is for first-time, nonviolent offenders. The exact amount of money Sutton must pay in restitution should be worked out by then, Day said.