Indicted on charges of theft more than $10,000 through the Trigg County Archery team’s debit card, 46-year-old Cadiz woman Melissa Rogers was arraigned in Trigg County Circuit Court early Wednesday morning — waiving formalities while entering a standard “not guilty” plea.
Declared indigent for the time being by Circuit Judge Jamus Redd and assigned to Princeton native and public defender Mary Rohrer, Rogers told the court she has full plans of hiring her own counsel.
However, she told Redd that she currently has no property or vehicles in her name, and that she recently resigned from her current job “due to the nature of current charges.”
Rogers was previously employed at Lake Barkley State Resort Park, where she had accounting authority.
The office of Commonwealth’s Attorney sought pre-trial monitoring for Rogers, and it was so granted by Redd.
According to court documents and a Cadiz Police Department investigation, Rogers made more than 875 purchases over an 18-month period between November 2021 and this past July, totaling more than $26,000.
Termed a Class C felony, Rogers could face a prison term of 5-to-10 years if rendered guilty without probation or shock probation.
Also per the CPD, Arrowcats officials were made aware of thefts when an unnamed bank notified them of an account in arrears.
Monies tied to the Arrowcats’ efforts included club fees, fundraising efforts and more — all of which are not maintained by Trigg County Schools officials.
This is an ongoing investigation.
