Money Missing From Organization

Investigators are examining a youth organization’s finances after members reported they can’t account for $19,000.

A search warrant filed this month in Snohomish County Superior Court says members of the 4-H Horse Leaders Association - part of the Snohomish County 4-H Youth Development Program - notified the sheriff’s office after they discovered $10,000 missing so far this year.

They also reported a suspected loss of $9,000 for 1997.

Court papers say bank statements apparently conflict with the association’s ledger.

In one instance, a check written for $1,400 was recorded as being just $400. Another check for $4,641.53 was written to an investment company, and was deposited to the pension fund of one member’s employer, court papers say.

Detectives recently searched that member’s home and took numerous items, ranging from computers and receipts to canceled checks.

No arrests have been made.

Club members are working with the sheriff’s office to reconstruct financial records for the past three years, said Pat Pehling, program leader for the Horse Leaders Association.

More than 1,000 young people are enrolled in the horse club, which has an annual budget of about $150,000.