Former Treasurer Charged With Embezzling From Talala Cemetery

Rogers County prosecutors charged the former treasurer of the Talala Cemetery Association with embezzlement.

Shawndra Ann Bortner, 50, faces one felony count of embezzlement of $9,355.

Prosecutors believe Bortner embezzled $42,782.18, but because some of the money was taken years ago the statute of limitations has run out.

According to court documents, the president of the Talala Cemetery Association discovered the embezzlement last year. President Charles Brown presented financial documents to the group's board on April 6, 2015 which indicated Bortner had embezzled $4,950 in 2014, prosecutors say.

Prosecutors say the paperwork showed Bortner had checks written to her from the association's bank account, deposits with cash received by her and withdrawals she made from the saving account. 

The board confronted Bortner during a business meeting and she admitted to taking the money, according to the documents. The board then removed her as treasurer.

Bortner was booked into jail on Tuesday afternoon.