NEWPORT-The former bookkeeper for Community House Cooperative (CHC) was accused of embezzlement this week by the Cocke County Grand Jury.

 

Thirty-eight-year-old Karen Kathleen Neef, of 1344 Bluff Road, was charged with one count of theft of property valued at more than $10,000. Neef is accused of embezzling an estimated $50,000 from the local community service organization, Newport police reported at the time of her arrest in September.

 

The indictment against Neef alleges that she took between $10,000 and $60,000 from Community House Cooperative between June 2007 and September 2008.

 

The indictment against Neef is one of 95 indictments and presentments returned on Monday and Wednesday in a two-day grand jury session. The panel returned 53 indictments, 12 presentments which Circuit Judge Ben Hooper II made public, and 30 presentments which Judge Hooper ordered sealed from public view.

 

An indictment differs from a presentment in that charges filed by presentment originate with the grand jury rather than with warrants and preliminary proceedings in general sessions court. Presentments are routinely sealed by the court until the arrest of the defendants accused by the panel.

 

Grand jurors also returned six no true bills clearing defendants of the charges pending against them.

 

According to a Newport Police Department report filed at the time of her arrest in September, Neef was administrator in charge of grants and federal funds for CHC and had been employed there for about six years. She is alleged to have used the organization's bank accounts to pay her personal bills and credit card payments and had deposited checks into her personal bank account between June 2007 and September 2008. Local police were first contacted about the alleged embezzlement on September 9.

 

According to its web site, CHC, which is located in the Tanner Building at 115 Mulberry Street, was incorporated in 1995 by a small group of women to support the Cocke County community "through establishing effective projects, inclusive process, and sustainable programs that further social, economic, and environmental justice."

 

Police were reportedly told in September that Neef abruptly turned in a letter of resignation without returning for her personal belongings.

 

CHC officials told investigators that Neef became solely responsible for the organization's bookkeeping in May of this year and she is alleged to have started using the organization's funds for personal expenses soon after that date.

 

Community House representative Terry Cutshaw reportedly told police that the organization began investigating the alleged embezzlement after it received reports from its bank that its accounts were overdrawn and discovering that services such as telephone service were being terminated for non-payment of monthly bills.

 

After reviewing the organization's bank records, CHC officials also discovered that Neef was allegedly writing checks from the organization to herself and depositing the funds into her personal bank account, Cutshaw reportedly told police. Neef is also accused of making personal purchases and paying for them from the organization's checking account and credit card.

 

Neef is also accused of writing several checks for the same purchases and having different CHC board members sign the checks.

 

Arraignments for Neef and other defendants who were accused by the grand jury this week are set for Monday, November 17, at 9 a.m. before Judge Hooper.

 

Here is a list of other defendants who were indicted by the grand jury this week. Defendants are not identified in court records by age, address, or occupation, and there may be other people with the same, or similar, names.

 

¥Shawn Barton, who is charged with drag racing, reckless endangerment, and violation of the state seat belt law on July 28.

 

¥Gary David Ball, who is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and manufacturing marijuana on August 4.

 

¥Kimberly Shanette Clevenger, who is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia on August 4.

 

¥Jimmy G. Smith, who is charged with second-offense driving under the influence (DUI), driving on a revoked license and reckless driving on April 26.

 

¥Carroll P. Beaver Jr., who is charged with sexual battery September 8.

 

¥Edward Lee Thompson, who is charged with unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon and theft of property valued at more than $500 in connection with the alleged theft of weapons owned by Melissa Davis, of 468 Lower Bogard Road, on September 1.

 

¥David Allen Valentine, who is charged with introduction of contraband into a penal institution and vandalism of the Cocke County Jail on August 29.

 

¥Ronald "Ronnie" Campbell, who is charged with aggravated assault and burglary of a building on August 16. Campbell is accused of assaulting Gary Sutton, of 431 Greasy Cove Road, with a motor vehicle and of breaking into a building belonging to Edward Frazier, of 460 Greasy Cove Road, on the same date.

 

¥Donald T. Roe, who is charged with second-offense DUI, violation of the state implied consent law, reckless driving, driving on a revoked license, violation of the state vehicle registration law, and violation of the financial responsibility law on August 17.

 

¥Sherrill M. Norwood, who is charged with second-offense DUI, violation of the implied consent law, speeding, and violation of the state alcoholic beverage open container law on August 29.

 

¥Dwayne M. Walker, who is charged with fifth-offense DUI, violating the implied consent law, evading arrest, theft of property, escape, and unlawful operation of an off-road vehicle  on June 10.

 

¥David Eugene Fine, who is charged with aggravated assault of Stephanie Jane Huff, of 524 New Cave Church Road, on September 20.

 

¥David W. Ryan, who is charged with second-offense DUI on August 23.

 

¥Debbie Mooneyham, who is charged with violation of the Tennessee Habitual Motor Vehicle Offender (HMVO) law, driving on a revoked license, violation of the state financial responsibility law, and failure to maintain a proper lane of travel on October 9.

 

¥Charles Moore, who is charged with DUI, violating the open container law, failure to stop at a stop sign, and failure to carry a driver's license on August 25.

 

¥Joey Scott Spence, who is charged with DUI, possession of a prohibited weapon, and violations of the state implied consent, registration, headlight, financial responsibility, and seat belt laws on August 22.

 

¥James A. Bridges, who is charged with fourth-offense DUI, fourth-offense driving on a revoked license and violations of the HMVO, financial responsibility, and seatbelt laws on August 15.

 

¥Bobby A. Burgin, who is charged with third-offense DUI, second-offense driving on a revoked license, violation of the seat belt law, and failure to obey a traffic control device on July 8.

 

¥Emerson A. Munyan, who is charged with DUI on June 23.

 

¥Marjorie Sherry Angel, who is charged with second- or subsequent-offense driving on a revoked license, driving without a license, and violations of the headlight, financial responsibility, and registration laws on January 23.

 

¥Charles Jeffrey Hawk, who is charged with second-offense DUI, illegal parking, and violations of the financial responsibility, implied consent, and vehicle registration laws on September 14.

 

¥Richard Jenkins, who is charged with an HMVO violation and speeding on September 18.

 

¥James Hampton, who is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver on January 4.

 

¥Christopher Chad Shropshire, who is charged with theft of property valued at more than $1,000, identified as cash and checks belonging to the Pepsi-Cola Company, on July 22.

 

¥Charlie Dale Antrican, who is charged with an HMVO violation, speeding, driving on a revoked license, and violations of the financial responsibility and vehicle registration laws on August 26.

 

¥Donald T. Roe, who is charged with driving on a revoked license and violation of the financial responsibility law on September 8.

 

¥Charles J. Clevenger, who is charged with second-offense or greater driving on a revoked license and violations of the registration, headlight, and financial responsibility laws on September 27.

 

¥Christopher "Chad" Shropshire, who is charged with burglary of a building belonging to Murphy USA at 1077 Cosby Highway on July 12.

 

¥Shawn Paul Christiansen, who is charged with public intoxication on October 12.

 

¥Stephanie E. Ball, who is charged with theft of property valued at less than $500 and four counts of forgery in connection with the theft of checks belonging to Jessica Gorrell, of 126 Sky High Drive, and the alleged forgery of those checks on June 29.

 

¥David W. Gibson, who is charged with second-offense DUI, speeding, and violation of the financial responsibility law on November 7.

 

¥Regina Miller, who is charged with theft of property valued at less than $500, identified as a pair of jeans, from Wal-Mart, on August 30.

 

¥Kathy Dover, who is charged with passing worthless checks on December 17.

 

¥Carroll P. Beaver Jr.,  charged with felony jail escape and resisting arrest on September 15.

 

¥Miranda Leshea Seay, who is charged with theft of property valued at less than $500 and criminal trespassing at Wal-Mart in Newport on August 2.

 

¥Marjorie Sherry Angel, who is charged with failure to appear in general sessions court on July 21.

 

¥Miranda Leshea Seay, who is charged with criminal trespassing on Wal-Mart property on September 24.

 

¥Kristy Miller, who is charged with vandalism of property valued at more than $1,000, identified as property belonging to Alexis Gray at 660 Corral Road, on June 24.

 

¥Kristy Miller, who is charged with assault and theft of property valued at less than $500 in connection with the alleged assault of Jodie Owens, of 1485 Mountain Ranch Road, and the theft of a purse and other property on July 3.

 

¥Joshua Doyle Gunter, who is charged with DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, manufacturing marijuana, reckless endangerment, and leaving the scene of an accident on August 25.

 

¥Jerry Lee Smith, who is charged with theft of property valued at between $1,000 and $10,000. The victim of the alleged theft of radiators, scrap metal, and other property is identified as Ronnie Hurst, of 1215 Evans Valley Road, on August 2008.

 

¥Ashley Messer, who is charged with five counts of theft of property valued at more than $1,000, identified as vehicle parts, taken from Ford Trucking; Squirrel Mountain Store; Vulcan Materials; Ronnie Ramsey, no address reported; and Robert Combs, of 4252 Black Mountain Road, Hartford.

 

¥Barry Sutton, who is charged with violation of the state sex offender registration law on June 1.

 

¥Doyle D. Loveday, who is charged with third-offense DUI and driving on a revoked license on August 26.

 

¥Charles Moore, who is charged with DUI on May 20.

 

¥Danny Dwayne Antrican, who is charged with eighth-offense DUI, disorderly conduct, driving on a revoked license, and violations of the open container and prior consent laws on April 11.

 

¥Charles B. Moore, who is charged with DUI and violation of the implied consent law on July 27.

 

¥Charles Moore, who is charged with DUI on August 18.

 

¥Terry D. Gann, who is charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, DUI, driving to the left of the center line, and violations of the implied consent and open container laws on June 30.

 

¥Anthony Ball, who is charged with theft of property valued at more than $10,000, three counts of assault, driving on a revoked license, evading arrest, vandalism, and resisting arrest on September 17. Ball is accused in connection with the theft of property balonging to Richard Chesteen, of 1550 Deerwood Road, and with causing damage to property belonging to Sharon James, of 104 Ray's Loop Road.

 

¥Brandon Joseph Clayton, who is charged with domestic assault of Amanda Clayton, of 321 English Street, on July 17.

 

¥Rickey Haney, who is charged with fifth-offense DUI, driving on a revoked license, and violation of the implied consent law on September 20.

 

¥Dennie Joe Duncan, who is charged with fifth-offense driving on a revoked license and simple possession of cocaine on May 24.

 

¥Bonnie Lou Jenkins, who is charged with introduction of drugs into a penal institution on  August 31.

 

¥Cindy Renea James, who is charged with theft of property valued at less than $500, identified as cartons of cigarettes, from Parrott's Place, of Parrottsville, on September 29.

 

¥Robert Edward Raines, who is charged with introduction of drugs into a penal institution  on July 29.

 

¥Roy Santana, who is charged with theft of property valued at more than $1,000 and aggravated burglary in connection with the break-in of the home of Ken Fowler, of 3068 River's Edge Drive, Cosby, on July 31, and the theft of tools from the residence.

 

¥Steve Moore, who is charged with especially aggravated robbery of Glen Lewis, of 637 North Street, on September 4.

 

¥David Allen Valentine, who is charged with introduction of drugs into a penal institution on August 31.

 

¥Jonathan Grooms, who is charged with theft of property valued at less than $500 from Kent Cortez, no address reported, on September 25.

 

¥Ritchie A. Lane, who is charged with third-offense DUI, driving on a revoked license, failure to obey a traffic control device, and violation of the financial responsibility law on August 16.

 

Here is a list of those cleared by the grand jury this week of charges against them on no true bills.

 

¥Miranda Leshea Seay, who had been accused of the sale of alcohol to a minor on July 21.

 

¥Everette Darnell Woody, who had been accused of simple possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia on April 5, 2006.

 

¥Marty Williams, who had been accused of possession of cocaine with intent to sell and deliver, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia  on September 13.

 

¥Barry Sutton, who had been accused of assault of Joseph Waddell, of Newport, on October 8.

 

¥Nicholas Davis, who had been accused of domestic assault of Sara Sicari, of 126 Diamond Circle, on April 25.