Woman On Bail For Alleged $665,000 Theft

A local woman has been charged with stealing more than $665,000 from her employer, C.L. Stutzman Excavating Inc.

Debbie Kay Westburg, 41, was released on $10,000 bond after being charged with grand theft for allegedly altering 317 checks to Stutzman Excavating and rerouting them to accounts in her name, a Twin Falls County sheriff’s report said. The altered checks totaled $665,917.29.

Stutzman Excavating officials told investigators they had earlier confronted Westburg about $17,000 worth of alleged embezzlement from the business between March 1993 and August 1997. The sheriff’s report said Westburg admitted to the theft and signed an agreement to repay the money, then was fired.

Stutzman Excavating contacted authorities when it continued to get back checks that had been transferred to Westburg’s accounts, the report said.

Westburg and her attorney, Eric Clark, met with investigators during the past week, and she admitted to altering the checks, the sheriff’s report said.