RICHMOND — A local woman is scheduled to appear in a Sagadahoc County court Tuesday on charges that she stole thousands of dollars while an employee of a town credit union.

Clarissa Hurley, 50, of Richmond, has been charged with two counts of theft and one of forgery, all felonies, after the discovery of unauthorized withdrawals from an account at Down East Credit Union on Main Street.

Richmond Police Chief Scott MacMaster said Thursday that officials from Down East Credit Union contacted him late last year about a possible theft by an employee. After credit union officials conducted an internal audit of accounts in November, they forwarded the information to Richmond police.

“I don’t know what brought her to the attention of investigators other than she was a teller (at the credit union),” Leonard Sharon, Hurley’s attorney, said Thursday. “Until we see the evidence, we can’t believe there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that she stole money from anyone.”

MacMaster said Hurley was charged in March after an investigation by Sgt. James Donnell.

Police identified two victims: the credit union itself, and an account holder whose name was allegedly forged and from whose account $8,500 was taken.

“It was actually the keen ear of a teller at a different branch who picked up on the fact that the victim was living out of state, and had researched an account after overhearing a conversation between two members,” MacMaster said. “It would have been discovered at some point, but it was discovered sooner rather than later because of the teller’s keen ear.”

Sharon said it’s possible Tuesday’s court appearance may be delayed so the case can be heard by a grand jury.

A message to the credit union seeking comment was not returned immediately Thursday.

Jessica Lowell can be contacted at 621-5632 or at:

jlowell@centralmaine.com

Twitter: JLowellKJ