GREENWOOD, Ind. — The former executive director of Greenwood's CHAMP Camp pleaded not guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from the organization, in an initial hearing in Johnson County Wednesday.
Alysia Caldwell, 34, is facing two felony theft charges after being accused of stealing $26,000 from the charity — which puts on camps for kids with special needs — while she was the executive director.
Caldwell was quiet outside the courtroom Wednesday morning. She didn't offer a comment after making her plea in Johnson County Superior Court. The former executive director of CHAMP Camp is accused of stealing from the charity for children with special needs, that she was supposed to oversee and care for.
"It's just heartbreaking because these are the most vulnerable people in our community — kids that have ventilators," said Johnson County Deputy Prosecutor Drew Foster. "These types of programs are instrumental in them having a higher quality of life."
Prosecutors say Caldwell pocketed $26,000 meant for children, used it for personal expenses like her mortgage and debts, then cooked the books to cover it up. When the charity had to let Caldwell go during the pandemic, police say board members discovered money was missing. $26,000 would have paid for 10 kids to go to summer camp.
Jamie Mitchell is CHAMP Camp's new executive director. She said the loss was difficult both personally and professionally.
"You bring people into your organization and you trust that we all have the same heart, and we're all trying to work toward that same goal," Mitchell said. "So when someone chooses a different path, it is hard."
Mitchell has been with the organization for many years. She was previously a counselor and camp director, so she said she's seen firsthand how kids change from that week of independence. She knows the value of empowering young lives.
"I don't know if I have enough words to express how wonderful it is. It's such a great experience to watch them go from already being a wonderful human being to gaining that independence that summer camp gives all of us and coming back the next year having built on that," Mitchell said. "And for the counselors, it fills their soul."
That experience was put in danger, prosecutors say, by Caldwell's actions. In the meantime, CHAMP Camp vows to keep helping kids thrive.
"We will take all of the emotion that we're feeling from this and put it towards making this the best camp that we can have," Mitchell said. "We will remember this and we will learn from this. It's just something unfortunate that happened, but we will come out stronger and find the positives in all of it."
Caldwell is out free until a Feb. 8, 2022 trial. Judge Peter Nugent released her on her own recognizance. 13News has confirmed Caldwell is now working at a new job in Kentucky, as executive director for another agency that helps people with disabilities.