The treasurer of a Thermopolis Future Farmers of America (FFA) fundraising committee admitted to stealing more than $15,000 from the group, according to court documents filed Monday.
Cody Stewart, 36, now faces 11 felony counts of forgery and one of felony theft. Each charge is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
She’s set for a preliminary hearing Oct. 30 in Thermopolis Circuit Court.
Stewart, who is out of jail on a surety bond, did not immediately respond Thursday to a Cowboy State Daily request for comment.
Thermopolis Police Chief Pat Cornwell conducted the investigation in this case. He met with three members of the Thermopolis FFA Alumni Committee on the afternoon of Oct. 17, to discuss a report of theft, says a case evidentiary affidavit Cornwell wrote.
The group’s key mission is to support the middle school and high school FFA programs of Thermopolis by financing state and national competitions and building FFA college scholarships.
Stewart had been stealing from the group for three years, committee members told Cornwell.
Cassie Owsley is the current president of the group. Stewart was elected treasurer and then began serving in that position Jan. 14, 2020, the affidavit says.
As of Jan. 31, 2020, the group’s checking account had a balance of $8,758.52. As of March 31, 2020, its savings account showed a balance of $11,538.30, wrote Cornwell.
The police chief wrote that the committee members provided him with their Pinnacle Bank checking and savings account information, including bank transactions and photocopied checks.
As of Oct. 17, 2024, the group’s checking account was in the negative $640.50, and its savings account was down to $2.95, the affidavit says.
Group members said all their checks require two signatures to be processed. “Several” members can sign to process a check, wrote Cornwell, including Owsley and Stewart.
The Tally
Owsley listed checks on which she believed Stewart had forged Owsley’s signature. Those were all made out to “Cody Stewart,” wrote Cornwell, and they include:
• Check No. 226 of Oct. 12, 2022, for $1,300
• Check No. 235 of May 13, 2023, for $600
• Check No. 236 of June 4, 2023, for $100
• Check No. 238 of June 8, 2023, for $150
• Check No. 239 of June 15, 2023, for $100
• Check No. 240 of June 19, 2023, for $150
• Check No. 243 of July 10, 2023, for $350
• Check No. 273 of Dec. 13, 2023, for $200
• Check No. 274 of Dec. 20, 2023, for $75
• Check No. 244 of July 19, 2023, for $105.76
Lastly, committee members told Cornwell that Stewart altered the written numerical sum on one check made out to her, inflating its value from $400 to $1,400, the chief wrote. He added that Owsley said the initials on the numerical change were supposed to be hers but were forged.
Interviews
Cornwell conducted two interviews with Stewart at the Thermopolis Police Department on Oct. 18 and 20, and delivered her Miranda warnings at the beginning of each interview, he wrote.
She said she understood those rights and agreed to speak to him without an attorney present, Cornwell added.
The affidavit says Stewart told the chief that she stole between $15,000 and $18,000 from the committee’s bank accounts. It started in autumn 2021 and ended in September of this year, Stewart told Cornwell, according to the document.
Owsley could not be reached for comment by publication time.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
