The Mysterious Case of the Missing Girl Scout Cookies

A Murfreesboro Girl Scouts Regional Director recently reported a theft totaling more than $30,000 to the police. The director reported that one of the volunteers who had access to the Girl Scouts accounts allegedly has been taking money out of the account and converting it for her own personal use since February 2012. The local volunteer allegedly wrote checks for personal use out of the account and transferred and withdrew money out of the account for her own use. The Girl Scouts want to have the volunteer prosecuted for these actions.

Under Tennessee law, the volunteer could be charged with a couple of different crimes. A theft occurs when a person knowingly exercises control over the property of another without the owner’s consent and with the intent to deprive the owner of the property. The Girl Scout case would definitely fall under theft because the volunteer allegedly unlawfully took the Girl Scout’s money and had no intent to give it back. Tennessee classifies theft offenses according to the value of the property taken. In this case, the theft would be a Class C felony because the value of the property is $30,000. The punishment could include imprisonment of 3-15 years and a fine of up to $10,000 though a criminal defense attorney may be able to help.

The volunteer could also be charged with fraud. In Tennessee, fraud requires the intent to commit a theft or a crime of deceit. Embezzlement is another possibility. Embezzlement is committed by a person in a position of trust, such as an employee. Volunteers in a position of trust can commit embezzlement, and these charges are very serious and are often prosecuted in federal court.

Finally, the volunteer may also face civil charges if the Girl Scouts decide to pursue litigation against the perpetrator even if the prosecutor declines to press criminal charges.

It’s important to remember that these are only allegations at this point, but this should be an interesting case to watch.