Guilty plea from dispatcher who faked cancer claim

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Dannille Vanderpool appeared in Napa Superior Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a single count of grand theft. Sentencing will be on Sept. 17. She faces 180 days in jail and has said she will pay full restitution. J.L. Sousa/Register | Buy photos
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Dannille Vanderpool pleaded guilty Thursday morning to a single count of grand theft. Sentencing is set for September 17. She faces 180 days in jail and paying full restitution of some $50,000 in donations and other monies received as a result of her faking a claim of having cancer. J.L. Sousa/Register | Buy photos

Friday, July 31, 2009

Comment

By KEVIN COURTNEY
Register Staff Writer

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Dannille Vanderpool, a former Napa Police Dispatcher of the Year, pleaded guilty Friday morning to a single count of grand theft, admitting she took donations from colleagues after falsely claiming to have cancer.

Under the terms of the negotiated plea, Vanderpool will serve 180 days in jail and make full restitution to her victims, most of whom worked in local law enforcement.

A host of public safety organizations and individuals contributed nearly $50,000 to Vanderpool in 2007 and 2008 after she said she had life-threatening ovarian cancer.

With her guilty plea, Vanderpool avoids trial on a dozen additional counts of grand theft as well as charges of identity theft and forgery.

Formal sentencing is set for Sept. 17 before Napa County Superior Court Judge Francisca Tisher. At that time, Tisher will get a probation department evaluation of Vanderpool and give duped donors a chance to comment.

Joyce Blair, a deputy state attorney general who is prosecuting the case, said the proposed sentence was appropriate.

“She has no prior record, she has been cooperating with the investigation and she has agreed to restitution,” she said.

Vanderpool, who appeared in court Thursday with three female supporters, maintained a subdued demeanor during the 90-minute proceeding, which involved negotiations in the judge’s chamber.

Asked her plea to a single count of theft, Vanderpool replied in a low voice, “Guilty, your honor.”

Tisher told Vanderpool that a single charge of felony grand theft could have meant up to three years in state prison and a $10,000.

In comments after the hearing, Vanderpool’s attorney, Seth Chazin, said his client was “very remorseful for what happened. She wants to make full restitution as soon as possible.”

Vanderpool didn’t originally intend to take donations for her fabricated medical condition, Chazind said. She first reported having cancer in 2001, but the donations didn’t begin until 2007, he said.

“She’s been diagnosed with significant mental disorders,” Chazin said. “She’s now being treated for that. Before it was untreated, and that’s what led to the commission of the crime.”

Chazin declined to specify Vanderpool’s diagnoses. He also would not say how Vanderpool intended to make restitution.

Vanderpool was accused of receiving more than $50,000 under false pretenses, including $14,000 in catastrophic leave payments from the city of Napa for cancer treatments Vanderpool did not require or undergo.

Victims listed in the criminal complaint included the Napa Police Officers Association, the Napa Firefighters Association, the Napa Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Calistoga Police Officers Association, all of whom raised money for the dispatcher.

45 comment(s)

firststreetmayor wrote on Jul 30, 2009 12:21 PM:

" Great job NVR Dannille Vanderpool had no chance at a fair trial with all NVR's persecution page, she even changed her looks seeing her profile was on the opening page of NVR everyday, maybe the D.A. will give her time served and let her leave Napa never to come back? "

cagirl wrote on Jul 30, 2009 12:50 PM:

" I hope her daughter is receiving appropriate therapy, as well. I hate to think what this situation has done to her "

JustMy$.02 wrote on Jul 30, 2009 12:57 PM:

" Ya, your right firststreetmayor because we all know Dannille Vanderpool is the victom here!

/sarcasm off "

JustAnotherManicMonday wrote on Jul 30, 2009 1:07 PM:

" How sad for her... how is her daughter doing? Where does her daughter live and with whom? "

Stshagwell wrote on Jul 30, 2009 1:18 PM:

" I have heard all the "public" opinion on this case.. And as usual, the 'public' never seems to have or weigh 'all' the facts.. So for those that wanted and 'want' this woman to Hang, I assure you, she "has been hanging" for the last nine years.. I for one am satisfied with getting restitution and seeing her change through therapy.. After all, shouldn't we all start acting like we are all on the same team? I don't think a woman who has absolutely no criminal record, an exemplary work record and a 10 year old daughter should belong in jail. Wouldn't that be just making her even "more" of a burden on the 'public' and state?
This has been a tough one to call, simply because this woman is NOT a "criminal". She is bent, not broken. I hope that now she can continue to 'straighten out' the bend and become the straightened out person that she and all of us want her to be...
Good luck Dannille "

Napkin4Life wrote on Jul 30, 2009 1:48 PM:

" It is no one's business but the families how or where her daughter is.

I have been a friend of the Vanderpool family for many years. I was saddened to learn that her cancer was fake, even more deeply saddened that she had a mental disorder that went undetected by any friends or family for so long. She has taken responsibility for her actions. I am proud of her for standing up.

I do believe that it is unfair of the NVR to have had a Dannille bashing blog on it's page for so long. This is someone who is trying to put the pieces of her life back togetherr again and the NVR just needs to learn when to say when.

People make mistakes, some intentional and unintentional... Including the NVR. But the ones who perservere are the ones that can stand up and admit they did wrong, and do there best to never let it happen again.
NVR seems to not learn...but maybe a slander lawsuit will correct that someday. Yes freedom of speech is a constiutional right...but I beleive the NVR turned this from a "News Story" into a dirty, hatelful, tabloidesque, hate campaign.

Hopefully this is the last of the Dannille stories...I hope that she can get through her sentence quickly so that she can get back to doing what she is best at...being a mom to a great girl :) "

justanothersomeone wrote on Jul 30, 2009 2:33 PM:

" wow more than a dozen of charges, down to 1??? is something missing here?? "

y2kcbr wrote on Jul 30, 2009 2:55 PM:

" JustMy$.02
Victim...I hope that's not a Napa County education. /SarcasmOff "

bornin74 wrote on Jul 30, 2009 3:06 PM:

" it's amazing how the "apologists" come on this blog and get very upset at other people's opinions or bash the NVR here. You know there are alot of small town papers that would not have even pursued this story as the NVR did, simply because it besmirches a public servant. I applaud the NVR for the coverage. People here seem to just forget the fact the this "poor woman" biled $50,000 from charity!. The excuse is being brought up about a mental illness.Did this illness prevent her from being a Police Dispatcher for 10 years?NO. Did this prevent her from being so proficient at her job that she earned "dispatcher of the Year" nope. Did this illness prevent her from paying rent, paying a car payment, grocery shopping, raising her daughter. nope.
SO this "illness" is obviously one that comes on when cashing a charity check.
I just don't buy it. I feel for her daughter, this poor girl now has to deal with the fact that her mom is going to jail. Put the person who broke the law in jail. You do the crime, you serve the time.
Excuses are like, well You know the rest..... "

concernednapacitizen wrote on Jul 30, 2009 3:14 PM:

" Stshagwell -- "an exemplary work record"--does that include calling in sick for weeks on end because of her cancer treatments, and her co-workers being forced to work for her up to 16 at a time? I don't call THAT exemplary. Also, I suppose that you, the taxpayer, are very happy to have paid her disability payments? Or the overtime expenses for filling her shifts? And what about those who donated their own sick time to her? That isn't even recompensable. Where do you suppose she will get the money to repay everyone? Her new job? Who exactly is going to hire her now that she is a convicted felon? Yep. She's the real victim here. "

wendym wrote on Jul 30, 2009 3:17 PM:

" I feel somewhat better knowing Dannille is getting help. I was wondering how the charitible contributions would be sorted out.
I would like my donation to go the woman and her daughter with Lyme Disease. That would be $50 I donated through the Mary's Pizza Kitchen fund raiser. "

concernednapacitizen wrote on Jul 30, 2009 3:22 PM:

" For the record, Dannille Vanderpool is absolutely a criminal. Just because she has a mental disorder does NOT mean she is innocent. She knows the difference between right and wrong as demonstrated by her employment (able to take calls from the public and to decide whether or not the police needed to go). She knew what she was doing just as much as a kleptomaniac knows what he is doing. BTW kleptomania is a "mental disorder" but their crimes are still crimes. "

firststreetmayor wrote on Jul 30, 2009 3:43 PM:

" Napkin4Life wrote on Jul 30, 2009 1:48 PM:

NVR seems to not learn...but maybe a slander lawsuit will correct that someday. Yes freedom of speech is a constiutional right...but I beleive the NVR turned this from a "News Story" into a dirty, hatelful, tabloidesque, hate campaign.

I will donate $100.00 to the fund, maybe a law firm would take this case

Proving Defamation
The biggest barrier to proving a case of defamation is the cherished American idea of freedom of speech. The plaintiff in this sort of civil suit must clearly demonstrate that the defendant went beyond his or her guaranteed right of criticism, with the result of unfairly damaging the plaintiff’s reputation.

John Gotti never had this much print daily, this case is going to see it's day
in court. "

write1 wrote on Jul 30, 2009 4:32 PM:

" Criminals (as I've oft read Ms. Vanderpool so named), are part of families, networks of friends, partnerships and so on. Ms. Vanderpool is a woman who commited a crime and is following all of the proper steps (full cooperation, restitution, etc) to correct her wrong doing. It is easy to demonize those who trespass against us...perhaps the majority, though understandibly pained, can travel the higher road and work to forgive her instead. "

MarkMiwords wrote on Jul 30, 2009 5:01 PM:

" write1: It will be easier to forgive her for her 13 counts of grand theft, identity theft and forgery, after she finishes repaying what she took. "

sunny wrote on Jul 30, 2009 5:31 PM:

" Is there such a thing as felony or misdemeanor grand theft? If so, which of the two did she plead guilty to? "

justnana wrote on Jul 30, 2009 5:57 PM:

" In the event that an attorney would take on a defamation case against the NVR, how would continuing the drama and keeping the case in the public eye help the felon/victim, or her family? It seems to me that our judicial system has "spoken" whether we personally agree or not, so it's kind of a done deal. Dragging it back into court for whatever reason makes no sense. I guess if money were to be awarded, it would go to the restitution fund, then the balance would reward the felon? "

napkan wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:03 PM:

" While one can certainly show sympathy for one with a behavioral health disorder, I would venture to say this disorder probably didn't preclude this person from knowing right from wrong...

A crime is a crime, and while she may be cooperating, what else can she do? The evidence speaks for itself - she KNOWINGLY bilked her hardworking peers out of their personal funds and cheated her employer as well.

I have to say I'm not very sympathetic for her. Yes for her child of course, but not for her - especially because she's not going to be able to pay back 50K of debt with any regularity or certainty is she?

To forgive is divine, but the law is the law. So those who are bashing her punishment, or the publication of same, she did what she did, it was shameful, reprehensible, and downright low.

She calculated, she tried to besmirch other's reputations when they started questioning her tactics and story.

I wouldn't exactly say she is a model of reformed behavior, I would say she is a model for "oops, I got caught..." "

mypoint wrote on Jul 30, 2009 6:18 PM:

" I am so tired of people defending criminals. She chose the behavior, and now she has to live with the consequences. I know and have known many people in my life that suffer from "mental disorders", whether it is depression, bipolar and so on, and they know right from wrong. This was clearly premeditaed since it's been going on since 2007. Let's quit excusing bad behavior and make her accountable for HER choices. She is NOT the victim so quit excusing what she has done! "

Baraki wrote on Jul 30, 2009 7:14 PM:

" I heard she got 5 years probation too... "

ambonizay wrote on Jul 30, 2009 8:39 PM:

" crime does pay....only 6 months in jail and pay back the 50 grand she bilked? If she invested the 50 grand smartly, she comes out ahead money wise. What a crock legal system we have. "

napan79 wrote on Jul 30, 2009 10:58 PM:

" Dannille Vanderpool just got a slap on the wrist, 180 days in jail is nothing for doing what she has done to our Napa community. I did buy pizza at Mary's Pizza Shack only for knowing there was a fundraiser for a Napa dispatcher who was dying of supposed cancer. When I heard the NVR report how Vanderpool made up the story I was not only upset that a person could do this, but how she damaged future fundraising for people who really do have cancer. People might think twice before he or she will donate to a cause thinking is it actuality or not. With having a felony on Vanderpool's record how is she going to get a good paying job to pay restitution to her victims? A lot of the victims are not going to see their money ever again. I believe Vanderpool should have to do a lot of community service and have to be sentence to prison time over jail time. I know Vanderpool might feel bad for what she has done but she did not feel bad at the time she was robbing the community out of thousands and thousand of dollars. If you do the crime you must do the time. "

Skizelli wrote on Jul 30, 2009 11:37 PM:

" Sometimes people make choices in poor taste for whatever reason(s). I'm sure every single one of you has made at least one in your lifetime. I know I've made plenty. It sickens me when I see society crucify someone, as if their poop doesn't stink. I think the embarrassment from NVR's "coverage" is punishment enough, personally. "

kdbk wrote on Jul 30, 2009 11:59 PM:

" Ah, the usual "remorse" ONLY after being caught. That's so genuine. Then we have the nonsense about some "mental disorder" or some such thing. Gee, you know, basically any criminal has some sort of mental disorder or deficiency, otherwise they wouldn't be so cruel and selfish, taking from others time and time again, using various methods of pursuasion. Sure, I think it's a little nuts for someone to so coldly plot crimes over an extended period of time. But what on earth does that have to do with the type of punishment such criminals should face?

Frankly, I think the plea bargain in this case was appropriate, but I can't stand all the ranting apologists on this and similar matters. What's their point? We don't want to crucify anyone, we're just disgusted at the thought of someone so ruthlessly defrauding our community and making fools out of so many. $50,000 is HARDLY the full cost of these crimes. "

dreluvwine26 wrote on Jul 31, 2009 12:26 AM:

" Skizelli-

"Choices in poor taste......" Hmmmm, I think of not tipping the waiter, maybe being loud at the movies, wearing spandex biker shorts.... That is poor taste... Lying and bilking prople out of their hard earned money under the guise of having cancer is not poor taste...It's despicable and CRIMINAL.. Orange jumpsuits are poor taste.... "

NapaSean wrote on Jul 31, 2009 12:39 AM:

" She made a mistake. She's admitted it and is trying to make restitution.

What she did was awful, and victimizes actual cancer victims, but she appears to be trying to make amends.

I think it's time to step back and let her write a new chapter in her life. "

clean and serene wrote on Jul 31, 2009 12:46 AM:

" Personally I think she deserved more time in jail. A couple bilked a family business out of 100k and they got more time. Why is it that she got less time?

If there was a real mental disorder why can't they use it as defense?

Because she did the crime with INTENT!

She hurt non-profits who try to raise money for their causes and other families trying to raise funds for their real sick family members.

She gets exactly what she deserves! "

reason-ator wrote on Jul 31, 2009 12:54 AM:

" It is very important that the NVR continue to harp about this case, in case anybody is sitting at home wondering whether they should think about commiting identity theft, grand theft, or forgery.

ALL the cases of identity theft, grand theft, or forgery receive this extended and repeated coverage, in an attempt to discourage potential criminals from victimizing groups or people.

It is NOT about shaming anybody in particular. It is also important to make sure that everybody sees the new appearance of the criminal here, to realize that criminals have all sorts of appearances. That's why the new picture was important. That's why we saw lots of pictures of Bernie Madoff in all the articles about him, for example. Even though what he did pales in comparison to what this young woman did.

The power of the press is great, isn't it ? "

badheadache wrote on Jul 31, 2009 3:31 AM:

" Its nice to see her hair has grown out and she has put on some weight. I wonder if I can get back the money I donated to her LDF? "

SubValleyGirl wrote on Jul 31, 2009 6:32 AM:

" She was "diagnosed with significant mental disorders"? Yet she was hired by the police department? Don't they do background checks, or mental evaluations? Or is this a convenient assessment to aid in sympathy at the trial?

hmmmm "

fwiw wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:02 AM:

" This is not justice. The punishment does not fit the crime. Tax payers did not get their money's worth. "

buddyboy wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:15 AM:

" bornin74 spot on!
It appears that she was more than a function adult. She was caught and followed the popular lead of finding an excuse to justify her actions. She will have time to reflect and hopefully, change.
If she was treated harshly (I don't think so), she only has only herself to blame. "

pinkflame wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:47 AM:

" so.....there is a job opening? "

write1 wrote on Jul 31, 2009 9:39 AM:

" I read what you are all saying, and do not mean to imply that you have no right to process the anger you feel, whatever the forum. However, I believe that for the better of our community, the same community that came forward with love and compassion for this very woman, we can't stew in it, covering ourselves in loathing and disgust for what is basically, a woman flawed. A sister, mother, daughter and yes, friend. "

y2kcbr wrote on Jul 31, 2009 12:38 PM:

" pinkflame...The job posting closed last year haha! "

Sickothis wrote on Jul 31, 2009 12:40 PM:

" Can a convicted felon work for the police department as a dispatcher?

Just askin. "

Mykdgirl54 wrote on Jul 31, 2009 1:55 PM:

" Im with SubValley Girl...I hope no one was seriously hurt as a result of this person suffering from "signifcant multiple disorders" who served as a vital link between those in crisis and the help they needed!

Furthermore, we are not in prosperous times. And the people this woman decided to rip off were not wealthy. My heart goes out to them. I doubt they will ever see a dime, but knowing that there are in fact GENEROUS, HONEST, GIVING people in this valley that take care of each other whenever possible is the only positive thing to come out of this story. "

JustAnotherManicMonday wrote on Jul 31, 2009 2:35 PM:

" Just makes it hard to fundraise in the valley, I don't want my hard earned money going to fake cancer victims. "

msdemo wrote on Jul 31, 2009 3:41 PM:

" I think this case did get a lot of publicity when there are other instances not connected to law enforcement that are just as bad. We hear little or nothing about them. I am of course referring to a certain case and a local charity "

littlered56 wrote on Jul 31, 2009 5:47 PM:

" Why was she allowed to take so much sick leave with out Doctors varification of her illness?? Hellooooo!! Every job I have ever had would only allow 3 days off with an illnes miore that 3 days required note of varification.
She was only allowed to run this con because no one requested proof of her need for time off work.
No question she is sick and needs help but the fact remains she got off easy. "

Old Time Napkin wrote on Jul 31, 2009 6:45 PM:

" Since she is only doing jail time she was not convicted of a felony. I believe that dispatchers have to take a psychological exam before being hired. She must have been reasonbly normal when they hired her. Mental issues are usually brought up after the crook gets caught. If you look at the big picture all crooks have some mental disorder or they would not be crooks.
I feel sorry for the child, but this lperson got off real light in view of what she did to the community. "

Grl 2sda wrote on Jul 31, 2009 7:37 PM:

" littlered56- I believe that those were the forgery charges that were dropped.

I find it all so very sad. Its one thing that she lied to her ex-boyfriend in an attempt to get keep him or get him back, but a lie of this magnitude is a completely different thing. She didn’t just lie to her boyfriend; she lied to her friends, her family, her colleagues, her DAUGHTER…the entire community. REALLY? All this for a man? Was he; was this, all worth it? For the sake of her daughter, I hope that she does get better and that she finds a way to pay restitution to everyone that was involved. To all those who were involved, her friends; her colleagues; that boyfriend…I truly hope that you all have found closure in this process. At times life imposes things on us that we can’t control, but we still have a choice as to how we respond. You were all good, compassionate, giving people, who responded to what you thought was the need of your friend. There is no shame in that. It’s time for everyone to turn the page and move on. "

Ephemerol wrote on Jul 31, 2009 10:52 PM:

" " She was "diagnosed with significant mental disorders"? Yet she was hired by the police department? Don't they do background checks, or mental evaluations? Or is this a convenient assessment to aid in sympathy at the trial? -- SubValleyGirl
All police agencies and officers as well as Americans in the general population are fully *terrified* by any mention of the word, mental health. Police officers nation wide fear that it will be used against them in court later on. Also like the religionists, this is an odd closed and secret as well as very controlling social subset of people with virtually *no* oversight. They are "not" part of any military organization and are citizens of the city or county in which they work. In a healthy or transformed society all of the rotten eggs and loose screws would have been weeded out long before by way of making this unique profession one that is a calling vs. just a job that only requires a brief community college course and a few friends in the right places. By integrating life counselors, wise mentors, screening boards of skilled therapists and former police officers and more all across the entire career path such agencies, one would stop the vast majority of abuse, police violence, corruption and criminality as well as provide any province, city or county with top notch, healthy and stable, as well as well educated and well prepared law enforcement resources. Such a transformation would require great courage and deep wisdom by the entire community. I am not so sure that this is going to happen or occur any time soon however. "

sailorgirl wrote on Aug 2, 2009 7:54 PM:

" Napkin- Everything you said in spades.

Skizelli- we have all done something we are not proud of, but how many of us lied to the public, police, our fellow workers, to get money for something that we are NOT entitled to. Mental Health, Yes, she does have problems with mental health, but she didn't have them until after she was charged! Give us a break. "

sailorgirl wrote on Aug 2, 2009 8:00 PM:

" and, she goes from a beautiful blonde to a mousy brunette.
Thank You NVR, for your coverage, how else our we supposed to know the news if nobody reported it? "

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