Ex-domestic violence shelter director pleads guilty to embezzlement

The former executive director of Lebanon domestic violence shelter Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment pleaded guilty late last week to embezzling from the nonprofit.

Mary Young, 64, of Estes Park, Colo., admitted she engaged in a credit card fraud scheme to steal more than $30,800 from the shelter, according to a news release from the office of Tammy Dickinson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Young, the director from Aug. 1, 2008, until her June 10, 2014, resignation, was in charge of two COPE-issued credit cards for the purpose of purchasing needed goods and services for the shelter. In her Jan. 28 guilty plea, Young admitted she used the cards for personal expenses, including gas, restaurant bills, clothing, travel, liquor and groceries.

Her fraudulent activities began shortly after she was hired on Sept. 16, 2008, and ended shortly before she resigned on May 19, 2014, according to the release.

Under federal statues, Young could face up to 10 years in prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will follow a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.