Woman stole from dog charity

A woman has pleaded guilty to stealing from not-for-profit group Everything Beagle WA, an act described by a Rockingham magistrate as “shameful”. Cassandra Marie Rhodes initially pleaded not guilty to stealing as a servant, but at Rockingham Magistrate’s Court last week she changed her plea. Rhodes was the president of Everything Beagle WA from 2015 to 2017 and admitted she stole a donation of $750 from the group by having the money transferred into her personal bank account. The group is a registered charity for dog rescue and helps to foster and re-home beagles and beagle crosses from pounds, rescue shelters or those surrendered to them from across WA. Rhodes said at the time, she had been unaware of the group’s bank details, as the treasurer had been away and that the theft was a mistake as she had intended to give the money back. Magistrate Leanne Atkins said she found it difficult to believe the president did not know the group’s bank details, but Rhodes insisted this was the case as they had swapped bank accounts shortly before she stole the money. Rhodes said transferring money to personal accounts happened quite often. Everything Beagle WA president Michelle Creasy, who took over from Rhodes in 2017, said after Rhodes had resigned, the group had found some irregularities in paperwork. “We tried to ask her about them and got no response and after going down several routes, we had to take it to the police,” she said. “We rely purely on donations and fundraising to do the work we do. The majority of our costs are vet bills and we also provide training for the dogs who need it. “For someone to take money and then refuse to discuss it with us created a lot of problems and it’s the dogs that miss out in the end.” Ms Creasy said the group now had its bank details posted on their Facebook page, so there was no reason for anyone to give out their personal account. “We have changed our procedures a lot since this, we have made it extremely clear that we have to provide proof of the payment and reason, and we cannot authorise the payments now,” she said. “We are extremely disappointed and shocked that somebody would steal from a charity and I am glad justice has prevailed.” Ms Atkins said Rhodes had been placed in a position of trust and that stealing from a not-for-profit was “shameful.” Rhodes was fined $2000 plus court costs.