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--> --> Gwynallen will enter guilty plea By Maggie McGehee Ashland Daily Tidings The former executive director of the Ashland-based environmental group Headwaters will enter a guilty plea in court early next month on embezzlement charges, according to Deputy Jackson County District Attorney Alan Smith. Richard Gwynallen is accused of embezzling $159,000 during the time that he served as head of the environmental group. His attorney informed Smith Friday that Gwynallen would enter a guilty plea at 11 a.m. Aug. 3. As part of the plea, prosecutors are asking that Gwynallen spend 30 days in jail and pay restitution to Headwaters. Sentencing and restitution amounts will be up to the judge, Smith said. The trial on a charge of aggravated theft was previously scheduled to begin in April, but Gwynallen's attorney requested and was granted a continuance, court officials said. In the lawsuit, members also named Maraji Gwynallen and Allysen Kauppiner as defendants, and said Gwynallen was married to both women at the same time. Members said Richard Gwynallen embezzled the money, with Kauppiner allegedly receiving $42,442 of the total and Maraji Gwynallen allegedly receiving $5,205. Headwaters was founded in 1974 by Southern Oregon residents concerned about timber harvests on public lands and associated issues. Workers were laid off even before Gwynallen was arrested, after he said numerous grant requests had been turned down. Headwaters board members allege he diverted the grant money for his own use. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing