Boulder DA: Former Shining Mountain Waldorf School employee embezzled almost $80K

Nov. 20--The former business director of Boulder's Shining Mountain Waldorf School has been arrested after prosecutors say she received almost $80,000 in "suspicious" payments, including a check for more than $30,000 for forged flood repair invoices.

Laurie Beth Ireland-Ashley, 55, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of theft between $20,000 and $100,000, forgery and insurance fraud. The theft count is a Class 4 felony and could carry a prison sentence of two to six years. The other two counts are both Class 5 felonies.

According to an affidavit, Ireland-Ashley -- who was with the school since 2012 -- resigned after she was placed on administrative leave in March. The affidavit did not say why she was placed on leave.

After being placed on leave, an internal audit of the school's finances by a forensic accounting firm found that Ireland-Ashley had received $79,793.20 in "suspicious" payments, including a check for $30,342.12 that was "especially questionable," according to the affidavit.

Employees of the school told investigators that Ireland-Ashley claimed the $30,000 check -- issued on Dec. 19, 2014 -- was to reimburse her for repair expenses related to the Sept. 2013 floods.

But when shown two invoices for flood work -- one for $5,971 provided by the school and another for $27,583 provided by Ireland-Ashley -- the company that did the flood repairs, ServPro, said the invoice provided by Ireland-Ashley was not theirs and appeared to be forged.

In addition, when shown a bank statement provided by Ireland-Ashley that had a handwritten note saying "flood," with an arrow pointing to payments made to ServPro, the company said their records do not show a payment was ever made to them, according to the affidavit.

The check was written to LIA and Associates and deposited in an account that Ireland-Ashley and her husband were the signers on. An investigator found that money deposited into that account would then be transferred from that account into another account that was used for personal expenses such as dining, clothing and entertainment.

When investigators interviewed Ireland-Ashley on Nov. 12, she said she would talk to them but that she wanted her attorney present. On Nov. 13, she told investigators to talk to her attorney.

Ireland-Ashley, who lives in Longmont, could not be reached for comment Friday morning. Investigators said she worked at Shepherd Valley Waldorf School in Niwot when the affidavit was issued, but officials at the school did not return calls Friday to determine if that was still the case.

Officials with Shining Mountain Waldorf School, 999 Violet Ave., released a statement Friday morning.

"We are saddened and dismayed to confirm our understanding that Ms. Laurie Ireland-Ashley was recently arrested on charges in connection with activities occurring while she was employed at Shining Mountain Waldorf School's business director," the statement said. "Information concerning possible improprieties was discovered last spring and the school took immediate action, including arranging for an independent investigation by an outside auditor. The information gathered by the auditor was turned over to the Office of the Boulder County District Attorney which conducted its own investigation that culminated in (Thursday's) events. The school has been, and will continue to be, fully cooperating with the District Attorney and our insurance carrier."

The school also said that its financial situation remains stable despite the alleged theft.

"In the event any funds are ultimately found to be missing, the school anticipates being able to fully recover any losses," the statement said. "Regardless, we are grateful to be able to confirm that the school is in a strong and stable financial position. As these events continue to unfold, we remain focused on our mission of providing our students and families with a high quality and nurturing Waldorf education."

Ireland-Ashley has since bonded out of the Boulder County Jail on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond and will be formally charged at a later time, according to the Boulder DA's Office.

"The Boulder District Attorney thanks the staff and board of directors of Shining Mountain Waldorf School for promptly bringing this matter to the attention of law enforcement and for fully cooperating in this investigation, which spanned several months," the DA's Office said in a statement. "Ms. Ireland-Ashley is presumed innocent unless she is proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."

Ireland-Ashley does not have a criminal history, according to the affidavit.

According to her LinkedIn page, Ireland-Ashley previously was the finance director of the town of Fairfax, Calif., for two years before resigning in 2011, according to the Marin Independent Journal.

Mitchell Byars: 303-473-1329, byarsm@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars.

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