Middle School Parent Group Treasurer Accused of Theft Appears in Court

Former River Falls resident Brenda L. Lutovsky, 42, made her first appearance in St. Croix County court today after being charged with three felony counts of theft in a business setting.

According to a St. Croix County criminal complaint filed on Nov. 3:

Between September 2010 and April 2011 Lutovsky used her positions as bookkeeper of Hudson-based Pace Appraisals, treasurer of the Parent Advisory Council and treasurer of the Hudson Swim and Dive Boosters to misappropriate funds exceeding $36,000. 

The complaint details a complex web of withdrawls and deposits from various financial accounts belonging to the organizations in question. 

According to the complaint, Lutovsky pilfered the following amounts, and in some cases, used the money to benefit a business she owned.

• $16,783.65 from Hudson Middle School Parent Advisory Council
• $9,039.16 from Hudson Swim and Dive Boosters
• $11,224.12 from Pace Appraisals

But according to Lutovsky's attorney, Steve Meshbesher, the woman's motives were anything but sinister. 

"My client has been physically and mentally abused by the father of her children for a number of years. She did some things that she's not proud of," Meshbesher told Patch after Lutovsky's hearing.

The criminal complaint also includes transcripts of emails sent by Lutovsky to the then president of the Hudson Middle School Parent Advisory Council. An email of March 16, 2011 states:

I would like to apologize. I am not sure I can even explain what I did. I was in a very bad marriage with an alcoholic who would put a gun to my head, a knife, and even a drill and turn it (on) to make me do things that were against my better judgement (sic). In trying to protect me and my children, I compromised myself. I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am. 

According to Meshbesher, Lutovsky is also in the process of paying back some of the money she owes, despite not yet being ordered to do so by the court.

"There are three counts to this complaint dealing with financial charges. We plan on getting those straightened out, in full, as soon as possible. It may take some time but we are in that process already," Meshbesher said.

Meshbesher also said that his office has been in communications with all three of those organizations in question and that he believes the debt to Hudson Middle School's parent group has been paid in full.

"We're still negotiating with the remaining entities to find out how much they're owed so we can start making payments to that process," Meshbesher concluded.

Lutovsky currently resides at an undisclosed location in Sarasota, Fla. She is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on March 2.