The former manager of a Wichita Falls tire store accused of wheeling and dealing a shop’s tires and pocketing the cash pleaded guilty to theft Friday in 30th District Court, according to court records.
Skyler Hilbers, 40, entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of theft from $30,000 to $150,000 in connection with Oct. 1, 2018, allegations, court filings show.
Thirtieth District Judge Jeff McKnight placed the Archer City man on 10 years of probation and deferred convicting him. If Hilbers successfully completes his term of deferred-adjudication probation, he will avoid a conviction on his record.
The felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Hilbers was originally indicted in July 2020 on a charge of theft of $300,000 or more. The offense is punishable by up to life in prison.
The accusations against Hilbers arose after another employee realized 50 tires classified as inventory were nowhere to be found at T&W Tire in the 5000 block of Jacksboro Highway, according to allegations in court documents.
An accounts executive combed through company records, conducting an investigation that indicated Hilbers did personal business deals with company property with no records of deposits, according to allegations in court documents.
Hilbers, who had no prior criminal history, admitted to a police investigator that he stole from the tire shop by voiding work orders and taking cash payments, according to court records.
But he contended he took $5,000 to $10,000 while the tire shop reported $386,830 stolen 2018 through 2019, according to allegations in court records.
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Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact her with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.
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