Trial Set For Ex-High School Bookkeeper Former Lake City Staffer Accused Of Embezzling More Than $10,000

A trial date has been set for a former Lake City High School bookkeeper who is accused of embezzling more than $10,000.

Renee Rossman, 33, is scheduled to stand trial June 19 in First District Court. She is charged with felony theft, punishable by up to 14 years in jail and fines of up to $5,000. Rossman was fired from her job at Lake City on Jan. 11 after school officials noticed that receipts from football games, pop machines and other sources didn’t add up.

The Coeur d’Alene School District also has filed a civil lawsuit against Rossman. That case will be pursued after the criminal lawsuit is complete, said Charles Dodson, the district’s attorney.

“That’s public money and we want it back,” Dodson said. The district has recovered $1,473.65 by withholding Rossman’s final paycheck.

Rossman was fired after Lake City Principal John Brumley realized that certain school funds were not as high as they have been in past years. He notified district Superintendent David Rawls, who ordered an internal audit. Findings from that audit were turned over to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

An interview between Detective Coby Langley and Rossman is part of the court record. In it, Rossman admits taking some of the missing money, but not all of it.

“What are we talking about that’s missing from Lake City?” Langley asked in the interview. “I mean are we talking $15,000?”

“No, … maybe $4,000, $4,500,” Rossman responded.

“OK, and that money is gone?” Langley asked.

“Mmm hmm,” Rossman said.

Rossman said she is the sole wage earner in her family and that she has two young sons. She said she took the money to pay for car repairs, Christmas gifts and overdue bills.

Despite Rossman’s admission to police that she took up to $4,500, the school district claims that more than $10,000 is missing. Police reports show that from September to December last year, the total amount generated by high school soda machines was $13,130.26. Deposits were only made for $7,476.09. The district could not account for the remaining $5,654.17.

Other accounts are short as well, including money earned from ticket sales at sporting events and school dances, school officials said. The internal audit revealed that some of the money collected never was deposited in the bank.

Rossman was responsible for depositing the money.