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Pennsylvania Scout Leader Charged with swiping $10K from troops, Heather Lynn Belford, 30, is accused of using the credit cards of the two Upper Providence groups to buy personal items and withdraw cash during the spring of 2014, when she was Committee Chair of the Cub Scout pack and leader of the Girl Scout troop.
Belford turned herself in Wednesday at a magisterial district court in Montgomery County, said Upper Providence Detective Raymond Bechtel.
She is charged with felony theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and access device fraud, according to a press release from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office.
Belford made 54 unauthorized transactions from the two accounts, the district attorney said. The majority were ATM withdrawals, Bechtel said.
The theft from the Cub Scouts was first reported in July. During the course of their investigation, police discovered money had also been stolen from Girl Scout Troop 7343, Bechtel said.
Belford was arraigned Wednesday, and her bail was set at $5,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4. Police said she does not have an attorney.
The district attorney’s office said it will seek restitution. In the meantime, the service groups welcome donations.
Agencies/Canadajournal
