Woman appears in Hudson Middle School theft

• Brenda Lutovsky

Brenda Lutovsky

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A woman charged with three felony counts of theft in connection with the alleged pilfering money from Hudson Middle School funds and other organizations made an initial appearance in St. Croix County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.

Brenda L. Lutovsky, 42, was represented by Steve Meshbesher at the Dec. 22 hearing. Judge Eric J. Lundell set a preliminary hearing for March 2 at 1 p.m. Court records list a post office box number in Sarasota, Fla., for her address. Her physical address was sealed by the court.

Meshbesher said his client was in negotiations with the principals in the case for his client to pay restitution.

The criminal complaint charges Lutovsky with the theft of more than $37,000. She allegedly took some $16,783 from the Hudson Middle School Parent Advisory Council; $9,039 from the Hudson Area Swim Association (HASA) organization and $11,224 from Pace Appraisals.

Lutovsky was hired as a bookkeeper for Charles Pace in November 2010 in the town of Hudson. She allegedly used a company credit card for her own use, including a pet care business she operated.

The criminal complaint said Lutovsky, aka Brenda Schoenherr, was treasurer of the Middle School Parent Advisory Council from Sept. 1, 2010 through March 16 when she allegedly diverted money from the fund for her own use and was terminated from the position.

She also served as treasurer of HASA between Aug. 2008 and Nov. 2010 and allegedly signed numerous unauthorized checks made out to cash, the complaint said.

Court records include transcripts of e-mails from Lutovsky to the president of the Parent Advisory Council in which she apologized and said she was in a very bad marriage, with an alcoholic husband who threatened her. She also claimed to have reimbursed the missing funds.

Tags: crime and courts, news, crime