Embezzled township cash used at casino

WATSON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Court records detail the case against an Allegan County township treasurer accused of embezzlement.

A detective said during a recorded hearing that Watson Township's losses are in the tens of thousands, and the treasurer's losses at a local casino were nearly as much.

Township Treasurer Stephanie Bogdan on Thursday was officially charged in Allegan County 57th District Court. She faces a felony charge of embezzlement by a public official over $50.

But in a probable cause hearing last week, Allegan County detective Len Mathis detailed his investigation. He testified his investigation uncovered about $51,000 had been missing since February.

Det. Mathis said Bogdan also had a player's card at the Gun Lake Casino, where the card's net loss was about $49,000.

In the some 250 days that the casino has been open, Det. Mathis continued, Bogdan had been in the casino 162 days.

The detective's statement was enough for a judge to sign a warrant for Bogdan's arrest.

A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 21 when a judge could decide if the case goes to trial.

Bogdan and her lawyer refused comment after Thursday's arraignment.

The 43-year-old is out of jail after paying a $1,500 bond.

24 Hour News 8 will continue to have updates on this story throughout the day.