13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Delphi mom accused of stealing from Cub Scout troop

Delphi mom accused of stealing from Cub Scout troop

Kris Kirschner/Eyewitness News

Delphi - Prosecutors say a Carroll County woman stole from the Cub Scouts in north central Indiana.

Jane Popejoy was a pack leader and treasurer of Cub Scouts Pack 3165 in Delphi, just north of Lafayette. She is now accused of committing what some consider the worst kind of crime.

"What you're doing is stealing from children," said pack leader Kathy LaFond.

A seven-month investigation by Indiana State Police led to theft charges against the 38-year-old Popejoy. Investigators say while she was a pack leader and treasurer, she took Cub Scouts money for her own personal use.

"There was about $3,000 that was missing that had been misused or misspent," said ISP Sgt. Tom McKee.

Police say the thefts occurred from late 2006 to mid-2008 and were discovered only when new leadership took over. In March of this year, the current treasurer checked the books, and when things didn't add up, she contacted state police.

According to court documents, there were "questionable purchases" from gas stations, a Wal-Mart store and even a phone bill to Verizon Wireless. There were also ATM withdrawals and the purchase of cigarettes, all coming from the Cub Scouts account. Plus, more than $500 was taken from the pack's annual popcorn sale, the Scouts' biggest fundraiser.

LaFond was a den mother at the time of the alleged crimes.

"Couldn't believe it. The boys were the ones who went out and earned that money," she said.

Popejoy, who turned herself in to police Monday, admitted to the crime, but said she "accidentally switched [the Cub Scouts account] with her personal account."

It's unclear whether Popejoy will pay back the money.