DAWNS House founder Dawn Holland pleads guilty to aggravated theft, faces 3 1/2-year prison term, over $400,000 restitution
Barney Lerten
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The founder of DAWNS House, a Bend nonprofit that provides housing for women recovering from addiction, has pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated theft, agreeing to serve 3 ½ years in prison and pay over $400,000 in restitution.
Dawn Holland, 53, was arrested in May of last year and indicted on eight Class B felony counts of first-degree aggravated theft, accused of stealing more than $300,000 from DAWNS House (Directly Assisting Women Newly Sober). She entered a not guilty plea a year ago.
Holland was accused of stealing the money between 2019, the year she was named the Bend Chamber’s Woman of the year, and 2023.
A four-day jury trial was scheduled for next March, court records show. Holland’s plea petition was filed on Nov. 3 after a settlement conference that day with Circuit Judge Wells Ashby.
Along with a 42-month prison term, followed by three years post-prison supervision, Holland agreed to pay $418,665 in restitution to DAWNS House, $100,000 of that before sentencing.
Judge Ashby has scheduled a one-hour sentencing hearing for next Monday, Nov. 17.
In the petition Holland signed, she said she was aware she could have faced up to a 10-year prison term and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted on each of the counts she was pleading guilty to. She admitted stealing $10,000 or more under each of the five counts.
Defense and prosecution attorneys are recommending she be allowed no contact with DAWNS House or their board members, as well as undergo substance abuse treatment.