82-Year-Old Ex Councilwoman, Treasurer Charged With Theft

CHESTERTOWN, Md. (AP) -- A former Eastern Shore councilwoman has been charged with felony theft while she was treasurer of a local organization.

State Prosecutor Emmet Davitt announced the charge against 82-year-old Mabel Mumford-Pautz on Wednesday. Her attorney, former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, didn't return a call seeking comment. Gansler is a partner at a Washington firm.

Prosecutors say Mumford-Pautz wrote checks worth about $45,000 to herself from the bank account of the Eastern Shore Association of Municipalities when she was treasurer between 2008 and 2014.

Mumford-Pautz also was a longtime councilwoman in Chestertown. If convicted, she would face up to 15 years in prison.

Davitt says in a news release that when a treasurer betrays trust by stealing, "it is a reprehensible offense that cannot be tolerated."

Maryland