ORANGE — Orange Police say local woman confessed to stealing more than $27,000 from an area nonprofit when she worked as treasurer.
Lisa A. Sargent, 52, of 91 Regan St., pleaded not guilty in Orange District Court on Friday to one charge of larceny over $250. She is accused of depleting the Central Massachusetts Steam, Gas & Machinery Association checking account she was entrusted with overseeing.
The association puts on the annual Yankee Engine-uity Show at the Orange Municipal Airport.
According to a police report, Officer Christopher Bisceglia spoke with club President Stephen Upham and Vice President Grover Ballou on March 21 and learned the association rents a building from the airport. Upham said he got a phone call asking why the club did not pay its rent for February. He told Bisceglia he found out the checking account was overdrawn, though the most recent treasurer’s report from Sargent in October 2015 revealed a $28,744.47 balance.
Upham said only he, Ballou and Sargent had access to the account. He also said Sargent had two days earlier texted him to say she was resigning her position, effective immediately. Upham said he tried unsuccessfully to get the association’s check book from Sargent, though Sargent’s ex-husband — who is also an association member — eventually retrieved it.
Sargent told Bisceglia she had been a member for about five years. She also said she has been addicted to prescription drugs for about a year and a half, around the time she became the association’s treasurer. According to the police report, she said she used the association’s money to fund her drug habit and for other purchases.
She has a pretrial conference scheduled for Aug. 1.
According to the association’s website, Ballou now serves as its treasurer.