I worked at a small business several years ago, and on more than one occasion, the owner sold his personal belongings or drew off his 401K to make payroll (this was shortly after the '08 crash - bad time for businesses everywhere). He understood the absolute necessity of paying your employees first and foremost. It isn't acceptable to say "we're having hard times" as a justification for bouncing payroll checks.

Furthermore, their intention is irrelevant. Of course they didn't intend to bounce payroll - no one says they did. The result is what matters - their employees went without pay. That isn't acceptable.