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Preliminary hearing delayed for former treasurer accused of embezzlement

ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – The woman accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars as a public official in Allegan County's Watson Township won't be going to trial just yet.

Watson Township is a rural area between the city of Allegan and US-131 in Allegan County. Investigators think former township treasurer Stephanie Bogdan took a huge sum of money from taxpayers and gambled it all away.

Some involved in the investigation believe there's more money missing than once thought, and taxpayers say it should never have happened.

Some say distrust is at an all-time high in Watson Township because of Bogdan, who is still on the payroll in the township, but from what we've heard, locked out of meetings because of what she's accused of doing.

“She wasn't doing her job, and she wasn't at her job,” said Watson Township resident Jeff Gouker, “and I know my wife has made many attempts to contact her about issues with money and it just seemed like she didn't have an answer about what or why.”

On Wednesday Gouker came to court hoping that Bogdan would admit to what she's accused of doing, that she stole from the people who elected her to office.

Instead, the prosecutor in the case delayed the hearing until an investigation, what's known as a forensic audit, is completed.

Some suggest that the audit will show that money in the six figure range is actually missing. Detectives say at least $50,000 is gone.

Deputies say Bogdan used the money to gamble at the Gun Lake Casino, apparently gambling on more than 60 percent of the days that the casino's been open.

“If the county doesn't show recourse of what happened, what's to say that somebody else won't do it and say, 'Hey, I'll get a slap on the hand,' so I feel she should pay for what she has done,” said Gouker.

Newschannel 3 attempted to get some answers from Bogdan or her attorney, after all Bogdan remains free on bond, but neither of them had any comment for us.

A new date for Bogdan's preliminary hearing has yet to be set.