Defendant in Cub Scouts theft case wants a trial
Woman charged with stealing $15,000 from troop for personal use
Michelle Zweigler, a former treasurer for a Cub Scouts pack in Hales Corners who is charged with stealing $15,000 from the group, now wants to go to trial.
On Friday, the 46-year-old accountant was in court with her attorney for what was scheduled to be a plea hearing and sentencing.
But Zweigler’s attorney, Christina Balistreri, told Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Michelle Havas she was scratching that plan and a trial date was set for September.
Balistreri also told the judge that she wanted to talk with officials in the district attorney’s office about the case, Havas said during Friday’s hearing.
Balistreri declined to comment after the hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Patrick Anderson said his offer for Zweigler is to plead guilty to a felony.
Earlier in the case, it appeared as if Zweigler might avoid a felony conviction as a deferred prosecution agreement was being discussed.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern confirmed in an email that such an agreement was discussed but “no firm offer was in place.”
“Ultimately our office determined that a DPA was not appropriate and the offer to resolve the case included a plea and conviction on a felony charge,” Lovern wrote this week.
Adult leaders of Cub Scout Pack 599 in Hales Corners, two in scout uniforms, were in court Friday for what they thought was going to be the closing chapter of a troubling episode for their group.
They said they were disappointed the case was not over but steadfast in their belief that Zweigler should be convicted of a felony.
“It is important that justice be done,” pack master David Graat said.
According to the criminal complaint, Graat took over the pack in late 2016 and noticed problems. He asked to see the financials, and he and others discovered funds were missing.
Zweigler, pack treasurer from 2013 to 2016, told police she had reimbursed herself for charter fees she had paid with her own money.
But a check of records showed otherwise — withdrawals from the Scout pack’s account and deposits directly into Zweigler’s personal bank account, often on the same day, the complaint said.
For instance, on June 17, 2014, Zweigler withdrew $5,000 from the pack’s account and then deposited the same amount into her personal account on the same day.
Pack leaders said they can find no reason for the withdrawal at that time.
Another member of the pack said he was told by Zweigler that she was using the stolen money to pay her bills.
Online court records indicate nearly a dozen cases of money judgments against Zweigler.
Zweigler, who also is listed in court records as Michelle Felkner, filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and stated she owed more than $444,000 and had assets of $11,229.
Becuase of the missing funds, leaders said the pack was unable to offer discounted attendance at outings or give out certain activity patches.
But pack assistant co-master Tim Hapeman said the scouts have been recovering financially, thanks to strong fundraising.
The group also has tightened up its accounting.
Hapeman said taking off work to come to court was inconvenient but he’ll keep coming because it is important that the case be resolved with a felony conviction for Zweigler.
“We trusted her for good reason, out of good faith, and she betrayed that,” Hapeman said.