A Medford woman has been arrested and is suspected of stealing $57,000 from a youth hockey organization, for which she served as a board member for three years.



Cara Ruettgers, 43, faces charges of second-degree theft, aggravated theft, identity theft and forgery. Police said in a news release that Ruettgers was charged on Wednesday, after an investigation into missing funds from the Rogue Valley Youth Hockey Association.

Police said between 2016 and 2019, Ruettgers served as treasurer and then president of the non-profit youth association. The Department of Justice helped the police department by investigating the organization’s accounts, and found that Ruettgers had stolen about $57,000 over three years. Ruettgers was lodged in the Jackson County jail following the investigation.

The board should be disbanded. Allowing a member to be both the treasuer and president is a recipe for disaster.