A former Masury woman has been charged with two felonies for allegedly stealing more than $79,000 from the Columbiana County Kennel Club.
Betty Jo A. Patterson, 65, of Johnstown, Pa., stands charged with theft and tampering with records. The thefts occurred between June 12, 2019, and Oct. 3, 2023, Brookfield police said.
Police said they met with a representative of the club on Oct. 30 who reported that discrepancies had been found in the treasury report in October 2023 and that Patterson had been removed as club treasurer. The club had reported the alleged theft to police in Columbiana, but there was a question as to jurisdiction because Patterson lived in Masury at the time.
Brookfield police said they reviewed records and determined checks totaling $79,450 had been written out as cash.
Two of the checks were cashed in Brookfield with Patterson’s Masury address written on them, police said.
In an interview with club officials, Patterson did not have an answer as to where the funds had gone but “jumped” on the idea that she had been scammed, police said. Patterson later wrote a letter to the club in which she said she saw “things going on” with the checking account and thought she could straighten it out, but things got worse. She said that it was “her fault for not saying anything about it” and offered to pay back $50 a month to reimburse the club, police said.
Police said they were unable to talk to Patterson.
