Katie Michelle Omundson faces 13 felony counts of grand theft after prosecutors allege she siphoned more than $45,000 from the Rotary Club of Pocatello while serving as its executive secretary. Bannock County authorities issued a summons for Omundson to appear in the 6th District Court on Tuesday, marking the formal start of criminal proceedings against the 41-year-old.
The charges stem from an investigation that began after club officials discovered significant financial irregularities in their accounts. According to police records obtained Friday, Omundson is accused of making 21 unauthorized cash withdrawals from a money market savings account at Citizens Community Bank between August 2023 and January 2025.
Details of the Alleged Theft
The 12 primary counts correspond to individual withdrawals ranging from just over $1,000 to nearly $7,000. Each transaction was authorized by a withdrawal slip bearing Omundson’s signature, according to investigators. The 13th charge alleges a broader “series of thefts” involving multiple smaller transactions, each valued under $1,000 but totaling approximately $7,000. Idaho law permits prosecutors to bundle such smaller financial crimes into a single grand theft charge when the combined value exceeds $1,000.
Denis Clijsters, president of the Rotary Club of Pocatello, told investigators in April that an internal review had identified suspected losses exceeding $100,000. While the 21 cash withdrawals account for $45,070 of that total, the remainder stems from two other sets of transactions that remain under investigation.
Clijsters’ original crime report flagged roughly $20,000 in payments made to an unspecified Apple credit card using club funds. The report also noted irregularities across the organization’s business checking, PayPal, and Venmo accounts. Police have opened a second case file to address these remaining discrepancies.
Internal Controls Bypassed
Investigators found that the withdrawals were not part of routine club business. Meeting minutes, bylaws, and Omundson’s job description indicated that club expenses were to be paid by check and required board authorization for any cash disbursements. No such authorization was granted for the transactions in question.
Clijsters believed the signatures on the withdrawal slips belonged to Omundson. The account from which funds were taken was intended as a reserve fund, not an operating account for daily expenses. Investigators noted that deposits into the business checking account were broken into smaller amounts that did not match the sums withdrawn, suggesting an attempt to obscure the flow of money.
The Rotary Club of Pocatello notified the public of the embezzlement investigation via a news release on June 30. The statement clarified that the misappropriation did not involve active members of the club. An emergency board meeting was held upon the discovery of the missing funds.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties
Omundson, who worked for the club for approximately two years, has not been taken into custody. Investigators attempted to interview her in June, but she declined after retaining legal counsel. Kyle May, Omundson’s attorney, filed a notice of appearance and denial of charges on Wednesday. May entered a not guilty plea and requested a jury trial.
If convicted on all 13 felony counts, Omundson faces a potential prison sentence ranging from 13 years to 182 years. She could also be fined up to $65,000. Omundson is scheduled for an arraignment hearing at the Bannock County Courthouse on September 25.
Clijsters declined further comment Friday evening, stating he wished to avoid interfering with ongoing legal proceedings. May did not return messages seeking comment by publication time.
For other recent public safety updates in the region, see reports on suspects facing charges after a shooting at a mobile home and an aggravated assault charge filed against a Pocatello man.