MEDFORD, Ore. — A Medford woman embezzled tens of thousands from a local youth hockey organization over a period of several years, according to the Medford Police Department (MPD).
Medford Police says it first learned of the case in January of this year when the board of the directors for the Rogue Valley Youth Hockey Association noticed missing funds. The board implicated 43-year-old Cara Jane Ruettgers, who served as treasurer and then president for the organization between 2016 and 2019.
"The Department of Justice assisted with the case by providing forensic accounting of the non-profit organization," MPD said.
The investigation eventually found $57,000 in funds that Ruettgers allegedly embezzled during her time in leadership roles with the organization, according to MPD.
Officers arrested Ruettgers on November 8, lodging her in jail on one count of aggravated theft. On Wednesday, a grand jury formally charged her with four counts of aggravated theft, identity theft, forgery, and theft in the second degree.
"This case did not involve the Southern Oregon Spartans Junior Hockey Team, which is a Tier II Junior Hockey team with a similar name to the organization involved," MPD said.
