A former River Falls Gymnastics Club coach and assistant director is accused of using the club’s bank account to try to pay off more than $20,000 in credit card debt.

Sarah Michele Shafer, 32, New Richmond, pleaded not guilty and posted a $5,000 signature bond June 19 in Pierce County Circuit Court on a misdemeanor attempt theft – business setting charge. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 4.5 months in jail and/or $5,000 in fines.

According to the complaint:

At 1:10 p.m. Oct. 27, 2022, the River Falls Gymnastics Club treasurer reported large unauthorized amounts withdrawn from the club’s business account. The River Falls State Bank had notified the club president of three suspicious transactions pending on the account. The transactions were going to a board member’s (Shafer’s) husband. The treasurer told police Shafer had been the assistant director of the club a few years ago. Only the director and president have spending capabilities, according to the treasurer, and anything over $1,000 had to go before the board. The treasurer closed both accounts and opened new ones.

The first transaction was an electronic web payment at 2:27 p.m. Oct. 26 for $3,083.68 to a Chase credit card in Shafer’s husband’s name. The second transaction, which took place at 7:24 p.m. Oct. 26, was an online payment to Capital One for $15,750.95. The card was also in Shafer’s husband’s name. The third transaction was dated 7:25 p.m. Oct. 27, a mobile payment of $2,900.39 to Shafer’s Capital One card.

Shafer began coaching at RF Gymnastic Club in December 2018. From January 2019 to May 2021 she held an assistant director role, giving her access to the bank account, spending capabilities and payroll. The unauthorized transactions took place on the same bank account that Shafer had access to when she was assistant director. She was laid off in May 2021 due to Covid and the assistant director position was eliminated. Shafer left the club completely.

In September 2021, she reached out to the club and was made an assistant coach and member at large on the board. Members at large don’t have access to the bank account or spending capabilities, just voting privileges. In June 2022, Shafer asked her paychecks to be handwritten to her, which in hindsight, gave her access to the bank account and routing number.

Officers attempted to have Shafer come into the police department for an interview, but she refused, citing childcare limitations. She agreed Oct. 29 to tell police the story over the phone. She said she had written the gymnastics club’s account number down in her book and accidentally used it when paying off her credit cards when she was drinking. She said she thought she was using her husband’s account numbers. She claimed when she realized the mistake, she tried to call the credit card to reverse the charges, but it had already posted. Shafer said they normally didn’t have that much debt but they had just bought a hot tub; she also stated she had maxed out her other credit cards and was trying to get back on her feet. She told officers she and her husband had different bank accounts and he was going to help her get her debt paid off.

Shafer reiterated she had been drinking when putting in the account information and didn’t think about it until police called her. Once she realized what happened, Shafer said obviously the club would know $15,000 was missing because it’s a nonprofit organization.

Shafer admitted she was struggling financially and said her husband is not. During the interview, she became emotional when asked to be honest with police. The officer told her everyone is human and makes mistakes, but she was worried she’d be arrested and that her whole life would be ruined. Shortly thereafter, she admitted to the theft, according to the complaint.

“I was drinking and I did it, I had access to the account, I had the account numbers, I was drinking and I did it, and then I don’t remember doing it, then you called,” Shafer said.

She begged police not to arrest her and take away her child. She said she was trying to make herself better, that she had lost her job at the gym she thought she’d be at forever. She admitted she never told her husband about the amount of debt she had racked up.

Later that day, Shafer called police back and asked if she could email the gymnastics club and apologize. Police advised her not to contact them. She also questioned whether or not the report would go into the paper; she was worried about being able to show her face in River Falls again. Police reminded her she is innocent until proven guilty.

Shafer is scheduled for a plea/sentencing hearing at 11 a.m. Oct. 3 in Pierce County Circuit Court. On July 13, Shafer pleaded no contest to petty theft in St. Croix County Circuit Court and paid $60.66 in restitution to Walmart. A settlement hearing is slated for 2 p.m. Aug. 10 in that case.

On July 27, River Falls Gymnastics Club Board President Debbie Tradewell sent this statement to parents: