Montgomery, former food pantry manager accused of stealing more than $40,000 | News, Sports, Jobs

MONTGOMERY – The former business director of the Footprints of Montgomery Food Pantry has been arrested on felony charges of stealing $40,442 from the nonprofit, state police said.

Shawn M. Gawblick, 50, of 56 High St., faces charges of theft, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to comply.

Using the food pantry’s business bank card, Gawblick illegally withdrew $32,894 from the organization’s account between 2021 and earlier this year, Trooper Josiah Reiner, a criminal investigator assigned to the Montoursville barracks, alleged in an affidavit .

It was also alleged that Gawblick misappropriated another

$8,000 from pantry funds to help her “It pays for personal utilities for her house and her other business, which is a neighborhood coffee shop.” Reiner said.

Gawblick was “led to” of the pantry to serve as business director in August 2021, Reiner said in the court filing. However, she left the organization in February this year, a spokesman said.

It was in late February that the pantry’s treasurer went to the state police to report it “serious irregularities with the organization’s business bank account, particularly with respect to the pantry bank card issued to Gawblick,” the affidavit stated.

When questioned about the matter, Gawblick admitted to Reiner that she stole the money from the pantry. She said that she “he knew he shouldn’t have done it”

but he needed money for “medical and living expenses” the affidavit stated.

“Gawblick said she knew what she did was not wrong and was willing to take responsibility.” Reiner said.

At Gawblick’s recent arraignment before District Judge Kirsten Gardner, a police officer told the judge that Gawblick had a “extensive” criminal record that included charges of forgery and theft by deception.

Gawblick has since waived her preliminary hearing and is free on $25,000 bail.

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