WILLMAR -- A jury trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday for a Raymond woman accused of making more than $15,000 worth of unauthorized charges to the Willmar Area Food Shelf.
Former director of the food shelf Victoria Eliz Tews-Burdorf faces five felony charges of theft in relation to charges made between February 2003 and June 2005. The allegedly unauthorized charges were made to Cash Wise and Cub Foods and were all allegedly signed by Tews-Burdorf.
Tews-Burdorf first appeared in court in May. She entered a plea of not guilty in August. A three-day jury trial is scheduled.
Affidavits for restitution filed with the court allege that Tews-Burdorf is responsible for a $17,000 loss. More than $15,000 of the alleged loss is related to the charges made to Cash Wise and Cub Foods. The loss also includes $1,433.50 for an internal investigation and $171.50 for lawyer fees.
Investigation by the Willmar Police Department revealed that Tews-Burdorf allegedly charged nearly $14,000 in gift cards, groceries and other items between May 2003 and August 2005.
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Further investigation by police and John Bergman, president of the board of directors for the food shelf, found that items purchased in some of the questioned transactions were not items used at the food shelf. Review of receipts showed purchases of laundry softener, dog food, hair spray, floral arrangements and magazines.
Items for the food shelf are also not regularly purchased through grocery stores. The food shelf usually buys food in bulk from providers such as Second Harvest or Sysco, according to court documents.
Tews-Burdorf was let go from her position as director of the food shelf in August 2005. Bergman "observed some suspicious charges on the food shelf account," after Tews-Burdorf had been let go, court files state.
But the alleged charges to the food shelf account happened while Tews-Burdorf was still employed at the food shelf.
Bergman stated that the board never authorized the charges or the use of a gift-card system. Bergman also reported that other unauthorized charges to purchase groceries were made at both stores during the same time frame. The complaint states that each charge was signed by Tews-Burdorf.
Christie Kurth, executive director of the food shelf, would not comment Friday on why Tews-Burdorf was let go from her position. Kurth also refused to comment on the pending case, saying the food shelf would not comment until the issue is resolved. Tews-Burdorf's attorney, George Hulstrand Jr., also declined to comment Friday.
A number of witnesses are expected to appear during the trial, including investigating officer Timothy Manuel, Bergman and Kurth.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, with opening arguments to follow.
