By Kirsten Buys
C & G Staff Writer

PONTIAC — A Farmington Hills Cub Scout treasurer likely will have to perform community service after pleading guilty to stealing more than $7,000 from the pack.

Melissa Anne Manasa, 33, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of one count of misdemeanor embezzlement in Oakland County Circuit Court Nov. 25, and produced a cashiers check for $7,200 to pay back the pack.

“I used a debit card for my own personal use without the permission of the Cub Scouts,” Manasa told just Rae Lee Chabot, who agreed to the plea deal between attorneys.

Manasa had been charged with one felony count of embezzlement greater than $1,000 but less than $20,000, for which she could have faced up to five years in jail and a fine of up to three times the amount stolen, which was $7,291.75. The reduced charge is one misdemeanor count of embezzlement more than $200 but less than $1,000.

Boy Scouts of America Cub Scout Pack No. 45 out of Longacre Elementary School ordered an audit of its financial records after Manasa, who served as its treasurer since August of 2005, failed to produce certain records. Pack leaders contacted the Farmington Public Safety Department Oct. 17 after the audit showed Manasa likely had been using the pack’s debit card for personal use.

In court, Manasa admitted to using the card between August 2005 and August 2008 due to personal financial constraints.

“The defendant had a problem with money,” attorney David Kull said of his client, who has no criminal history. “She’s never had anything like this — this is the first time she’s ever had any trouble.”

Due to miscommunication, Manasa still owes the pack the remaining $91.75, which Kull said she will pay at her sentencing at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 6 in Chabot’s courtroom. She could face up to one year in jail and fines in addition to reimbursing the pack, but Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Rob Novy said he and pack leaders are requesting six months of community service. Novy said they will leave it up to the probation department to decide what type of community service she should conduct.

You can reach Staff Writer Kirsten Buys at kbuys@candgnews.com or (586) 498-1030.