April 26, 2002

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025

MISSING MONEY LEADS TO CHARGES

Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, Jr. has filed charges against the former staff advisor of the Seats for Kids program, a non-profit organization that helped provide car safety seats for children to be distributed by the Denver Department of Human Services.

Melody Smith (DOB: 2-12-59) is formally charged with one count of theft (F3) and 24 counts of forgery (F5).  The charges allege that between December 1999 and December 2001 Smith forged a series of checks drawn on the Seats for Kids account for losses of more than $25, 000. 

The theft was discovered and reported by officials with the Denver Department of Human Services last December, and has been under investigation by the Economic Crime Unit in the Denver DA’s Office.

The presumptive range for sentencing on a class 3 felony ranges between possible probation up to 12 years in prison, and up to 3 years in prison on a class 5 felony.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Smith who was tentatively scheduled to surrender today.

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