A jury deliberated for less than an hour today before convicting the former executive director of the Jefferson County Children’s Alliance of theft and forgery.
Cheryl Fugett, 60, of Denver is being sought on an arrest warrant after failing to show up for closing arguments today. She had acted as her own attorney, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors told the jury Fugett took more than $20,000 between December 2003 and February 2007 from the non-profit, which was supposed to help abused children.
Evidence indicated she used the alliance’s money to pay $762 for her daughter’s summer tuition at Colorado State University, more than $5,000 for her own dental work, $1,400 for repairs to her home’s roof, about $1,000 for repairs to the pool and hot tub at her home, and more than $5,000 to pay her personal credit card bills.
She also wrote and cashed numerous checks to herself, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The non-profit organization shut down in late 2007.
