An Ottumwa woman is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a local non-profit.
43-year-old Kara McFarland was charged with first-degree theft, a Class C felony.
According to the Ottumwa Police Department, McFarland, who had access to the Heartland Humane Society’s PayPal account, transferred funds from the company to her personal PayPal account on three occasions in August and September 2024. The sum of the alleged stolen money was $13,500. Court records say that when the alleged theft was discovered, McFarland attempted to conceal her actions by returning the funds via check.
A warrant for McFarland’s arrest was issued on February 26, and she was taken into custody on March 13.
McFarland is currently lodged in the Wapello County Jail, where she is being held without bond pending a hearing with a magistrate judge.
