The treasurer of the McKenzie River Food Pantry is accused of spending funds belonging to the the nonprofit organization on personal expenses including groceries and gasoline.
Terry Lee Miller is scheduled to be arraigned July 12 in Lane County Circuit Court on four counts of first-degree theft, four counts for fraudulent use of a credit card and a single charge of second-degree theft. The charges, which were filed June 26, are considered to be committed under aggravated circumstances because Miller "either violated the public trust or a professional responsibility."
Miller became treasurer of the food pantry in Blue River in August 2017. At that time, she was issued a debit card for the food pantry's bank account "for the sole purpose of managing the food pantry's finances, expenses and procurements," according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed last month. But Miller allegedly used that card for other purposes, according to the affidavit, including making purchases for gas, prescription drugs, farm products and groceries, as well as her telephone bill, utility bill and newspaper subscription.
Miller spent $17,894 from August 2017 to April 2019, the affidavit states. In April, the food pantry discovered its bank account was overdrawn, which led to an investigation by the Lane County Sheriff's Office.
During the investigation, Miller allegedly admitted to a deputy that she used the card one time intentionally, at the Blue Sky Market, to pay for gasoline because she didn't have any cash of her own.
She was cited in May for a single felony charge of fraudulent use of a credit card. The additional eight charges were filed June 26.
On Monday, the phone number for the food pantry was no longer in service and its website was no longer active. However, Food for Lane County spokesperson Dawn Marie Woodward said the McKenzie River Food Bank is still operating. The food pantry will be open Tuesday afternoon from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m., its regularly scheduled hours.
