Dickinson County News: Local News: Waltz arrested on second degree theft (06/12/09)

Margaret "Meg" Waltz, 44, of Spirit Lake has been arrested on charges of second degree theft. According to Marsha Eckerman, Dickinson County Clerk of Court, Waltz was arrested on a warrant.

"The charge was filed on June 10 for theft by check in the second degree, a Class D Felony," said Eckerman. "The check was for $2,500 to the Cartwright Brothers... I believe it was for her son's graduation party."

The Spirit Lake Police Department arrested Waltz at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 11. Bond was set at $5,000.

Waltz, former director of the Before and After School Services, is currently on probation and has a history of theft. She was sentenced to five years probation in October 2008 for misappropriating and mismanaging funds from the Before and After School Services program (BASS), a nonprofit organization that provided child care services at local schools. Charges were filed in 2005.

In August 2008, Waltz was ordered to pay restitution of $401,743.37. The restitution order lists the details of the funds to be paid to the Department of Human Services, saying Waltz spent BASS funds of $155,627 on misappropriated payroll, $30,000 on a Chevy Avalanche, $78,313 on credit card payments, $19,400 on a vacation for herself and family members, and $56,026 in payments to her family.

The terms of her probation require Waltz to obtain a full time job and begin paying restitution. She is also to take out a life insurance policy in the amount of $500,000, naming the Department of Human Services as the beneficiary.

An initial hearing for Waltz charges has not yet been set by the Dickinson County Courts.

I realize that all persons are innocent until proven guilty, but if the new allegations are true, it appears that my initial reaction to her past sentencing was correct, and the court order in the previous case was far too lenient.

I am angered by Meg Waltz' continued over indulgence. I am sickened when I think about how hard I struggled to make ends meet as a single mother of three, when a good portion of my income went to the B.A.S.S. program.

I am hopeful that she gets what she deserves, a time-out in the naughty chair.

-- Posted by twocentsworth on Fri, Jun 12, 2009, at 7:09 PM

I remember when the B.A.S.S program participants were eating crackers and cheese and to get money for pipecleaners was a pain, and to know that Ms. Waltz was driving around in a new car, and going on a 15,000 trip is nauseating.

I feel as if the legal system did her a favor and as any good criminal would think, why not steal again, history shows that they won't punish me. I just hope we don't make the mistake again, she needs to serve time, and think about the consequences to her decision.

I bet she'll look lovely in stripes!

-- Posted by opinionatedboji on Mon, Jun 15, 2009, at 4:42 PM