STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A woman will be sentenced December 2 for stealing money from the Door County Humane Society.
Online court records indicate that Carrie Counihan, the former director of the business, pled no contest Thursday to five counts of theft of a business setting of less than $2,500. In the plea deal, 7 other counts were dismissed. They can be considered by the judge at sentencing.
Counihan was allowed to make purchases under $1,000 without board approval for the shelter’s operational needs, according to the criminal complaint. After board members became suspicious of the finances, a review was done. Among the questionable expenses were clothing, food and hair appointments.
Over a five-year period, the questionable charges, “is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars,” per the complaint.
Counihan admitted to using the shelter credit card on 86 transactions totaling $13,197.12.
According to the sheriff’s report attached to the complaint, there may be another $9,605.90 in personal expenses Counihan charged to the shelter.
