Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association embezzler released on parole

A woman who embezzled more than $900,000 from the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association while working as the organization’s bookkeeper was released on parole Tuesday after serving six months in prison.

Kimberly Kay Knight, 47, of Chelsea was sentenced July 26 to a minimum of two years and maximum of 15 years in prison after pleading guilty in Washtenaw County Court to two counts of embezzlement.

Kimberly Knight in her Michigan Department of Corrections photo.

Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Melinda Morris had given Knight an opportunity to stay out of prison if she abided by an agreement that required her to make monthly restitution payments with various conditions.

However, Knight was ultimately sentenced to prison after she missed a deadline to produce documents for the court, including 2009 tax returns for her husband's business, Grant's Towing. Knight spent much of her sentence in a prison boot camp program.

According to court records, Knight used her position to steal more than $934,000 between 2005 and 2007 from a fund the hockey league established to build an independent ice rink. Pittsfield Township police say Knight used the money for family vacations, jewelry and vehicles. Knight filed for bankruptcy in May.

Washtenaw County Chief Deputy Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller said Knight still must pay restitution in the case. Court records show Knight owes $585,504 in restitution to AAAHA and $50,000 to the organization's insurance company.

A lawsuit AAAHA filed against Knight is still pending, said Knight's attorney, Michael LeGris.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.