Santa Rosa Woman Arrested For Embezzling $262K From Businesses
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- A woman was arrested Thursday in Santa Rosa on suspicion of embezzling money from businesses in Petaluma and Rohnert Park, according to Petaluma police.
Petaluma police arrested Charity D. Howder, 36, of Santa Rosa at approximately 2 p.m. near the intersection of Tachevah Drive and Neotomas Avenue in Santa Rosa.
Petaluma police said that a report was made back in September 2011 about a possible embezzlement from a private attorney's office in Rohnert Park as well as a project management company in Petaluma.
Howder was a bookkeeper for both companies and was found to be embezzling money from victims' business and personal bank accounts, police said.
Detectives and a forensic accountant determined the suspect had embezzled over $262,000, police said.
Detectives from the Petaluma Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for grand theft and two counts of forgery.
Howder was arrested and transported to county jail, with bail set at $100,000, according to police.
Howder was also suspected of embezzling money from additional businesses and investigations are ongoing, police said.
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