Former school treasurer named in alleged embezzlement of nearly $230K

An Eau Claire woman has officially been arraigned for allegedly embezzling about $230,000 from a Berrien Springs school where she previously served as the treasurer.

Sarah Kurtz, 50, was the secretary/treasurer at Village Adventist Elementary School, and she allegedly embezzled the money by way of "automatic bill payments, use of the school's debit card for personal purchases, fund transfers to a personal account and by cash payments," according to Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic.

Kurtz is accused of embezzling the funds between 2011 and 2018.

NewsCenter 16 reported in November that a former treasurer had been

, but at that time, the person accused of the crime was not identified.

A few days later, the

they hoped to wrap up the investigation in December.

Kurtz was arraigned Thursday and bond was set at $10,000. Further court dates have not yet been set because the judge originally assigned to the case recused himself.

The case is now to be sent to St. Joseph.