Treasurer charged with theft avoids jail

The former treasurer of the Daniel Boone Music Boosters, charged with stealing about $32,000 from the club, will have the opportunity to clear her record after being placed in a program for first-time offenders.

Tara Crouthamel, 48, of the 900 block of Geigertown Road, Union Township, appeared Friday before Berks County President Judge Thomas G. Parisi and agreed to two years in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.

ARD gives first-time offenders the opportunity to avoid jail and probation and have their records cleared if they complete the program. Defendants in ARD do not admit guilt.

As part of the agreement Crouthamel will perform 60

hours of community service. She has already paid $32,127 in restitution to the boosters organization.

State Police charged Crouthamel with theft and access device fraud for using two bank cards owned by the club to make unauthorized purchases over a three-year period ending in November.

According to investigators: State Police were contacted Dec. 29, 2017, by David Walter, vice president of the music boosters. Walter told investigators the club was transitioning to a new treasurer when board members discovered debit card transactions between Aug. 15, 2014, and Nov. 13, 2017, that did not appear to be related to the club.

Among the charges were $839 to Service Electric Cablevision for cable-television services to Crouthamel’s home; $14,832 to pay delinquent taxes on her home; and $36.70 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike for her EZ Pass account.

There were also a number of cash withdrawals, a $330 charge to a party rental company in Norristown, a $373 charge to Wal-Mart for grocery-related items, dog food and an iPhone 5s smartphone.

Daniel Boone Area High School is located in Union Township, which relies on State Police from the Reading station for coverage.