VENETA, Ore. – Angela Donahue, a former treasurer for the Parent Action League for Students (PALS) at Veneta Elementary School, has been charged with aggravated theft after allegedly embezzling over $13,000 from the organization over a span of several years.
According to court documents, Donahue, 47, served as the treasurer for PALS, a volunteer organization that raises funds for school supplies, events, and projects. She initially joined the group in 2017 and became treasurer in 2018. Investigations into the theft began in March 2024 when Donahue admitted to stealing approximately $9,000 in the fall of 2022 to pay off credit card debt.
Soon after the theft, Donahue stepped down as treasurer but was later asked to return to the position in 2023. It is alleged that when she resumed the role, she stole an additional $5,000.
When confronted by the PALS board in February 2024, Donahue reportedly repaid the stolen funds. On January 8, 2025, she was formally charged with first-degree aggravated theft. Donahue is scheduled for arraignment on January 28, 2025.