Haugen pleads innocent in theft case

A Hudson woman charged in the theft of funds from Willow River Elementary School pleaded innocent to felony charges on Sept. 16.

A motion hearing was set for Nov. 14 for Nichole R. Haugen, 28, in Judge Howard W. Cameron’s court.

Haugen is charged with four felony counts of theft in a business setting. She is accused of taking more than $35,000 from a parent group at the school.

The criminal complaint said Haugen was the treasurer of the non-profit Willow River Parents Group and one of only two officers who had accesses to the club’s checking account.

An officer of the group contacted police when thousands of dollars appeared to be missing. Checks written on the account were negotiated in the off season when no school activity was taking place and one was written to Verizon Wireless that apparently was for Haugen’s personal use, the compliant said.

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