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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 22, 2004 Nonprofit agency officer arrested on theft charge The former secretary of the Gleaning Network Inc., a nonprofit agency that provides food to the poor, was arrested Tuesday night on charges she and another former officer stole nearly $5,000 from the agency’s charitable contribution fund. Connie Ann Pugh, 40, of Medford was arrested by a Central Point police officer on a charge of first-degree theft. She was lodged in the Jackson County Jail, where she remained late Tuesday, on $20,000 bail. Earlier in the day, Pugh and the Gleaning Network’s former president, Jessyca Lucille Baxter, were considered missing after being indicted on the theft charges. Central Point police were searching for Baxter, 58, of Eagle Point, who also faces a first-degree theft charge, said Detective Kris Allison. The indictments allege that the women stole about $4,564 between April 2004 and July 2004. Other thefts are suspected, including thefts of donated clothing and other items, but evidence was difficult to obtain, Allison said. "Due to the lack of record keeping, it was almost impossible to track any items that came in," she said. The indictments cap a four-month investigation by the Charitable Activities Division of the state Department of Justice and the Central Point police. Investigators were alerted to possible crime by former Gleaning Network board member Anastasia Batie of Central Point. Advertisement Batie said Baxter and Pugh, as well as other officers, routinely took money and contributions that ranged from food and crates of underwear to donated automobiles. Batie, who runs a nonprofit agency for victims of domestic violence, said she wanted to stop the waste of public generosity. "I found out they weren’t keeping records and they were taking money," said Batie, who expects additional indictments and arrests. Investigations into financial affairs at the Gleaning Network Inc. are continuing, Allison said. The agency runs a thrift store at 211 N. Front St. in Central Point. Reporters JoNel Aleccia and Jack Moran contributed to this report. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers