Crime & Safety

No Badge For That: Girl Scout Leader Charged in Cookie Money Theft

St. Charles Police said Trisha Shelton forged checks made out to herself on the troop's account and never deposited cookie money from 2011.

A Girl Scout leader is accused of stealing more than $1,000 in cookie money from her troop and forging checks for about $1,600 on the troop’s account.

Trisha Shelton, 29, of the 2600 block of Ruth Avenue in northeast St. Charles County, was charged with felony theft in St. Charles County Circuit Court.

St. Charles Police said leaders of Girl Scout troop #1137 based in St. Charles discovered Shelton had forged the name of another leader on eight checks made out to Shelton between May 21 and July 9, 2012. The checks totaled just more than $1,060.

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During an investigation, police said detectives learned that Shelton, who was charged with maintaining the troop’s checking account, was given $1,001 by the troop’s cookie manager for deposit into the troop’s account. According to the report, the money was never deposited.

Police said Shelton gave them reasons she cashed the checks, but each of those arguments were refuted by at least two other troop leaders. Police said Shelton also changed her story a number of times.

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