Former Tea Fire Department treasurer accused of embezzlement

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TEA (AP) — The former treasurer of the volunteer Tea Fire Department is accused of embezzling about $170,000 from the organization over a two-year period.

Lincoln County State's Attorney Tom Wollman tells the media that Denae Baustian turned herself in Thursday night after being indicted by a grand jury this week.

Wollman says it's a significant amount of money, and something like that is going to have an effect on the department.

Fire department president Dale Cook says township leaders and city officials are shocked by the allegations against Baustian, who'd been with the department since 2007 and had served as treasurer since 2009.

The charge carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison.

The Associated Press received no answer to a telephone call made to number listed for Baustian.

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