Former Capitola beach rental firm owner, embezzler, ordered to pay final restitution

SANTA CRUZ — A former Capitola property and vacation rental manager convicted in a felony embezzlement scheme affecting more than 130 people was ordered Thursday to resolve a final restitution payment.

Dolores “Dede” Harrington appeared by video conference before Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Stephen Siegel with an attorney representing her in a series of civil lawsuits. Harrington served as a broker and co-owner for Beach House Rentals LLC, for high-end vacation, home, condo, cottage and townhome rentals. After owning the business for some 16 years, Harrington’s charges of nonpayment to her clients ran from early 2020 through August 2022. She agreed to a plea deal in December that reduced her 16 felony charges to four, resulting in a sentence of restitution, two years of probation and 500 hours of community service.

While Harrington and her attorney said they did not agree to the sum estimated in lost lease payments and nearly three years of attorneys’ fees for three victims, they declined to formally contest the claims. Siegel ordered that named victims Joseph and Susan Mingione and Calvin Cornwell were to be paid nearly $122,000 and $23,000, respectively.