POTLATCH, ID – The former clerk for the small City of Onaway is wanted on an arrest warrant for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars in taxpayer money.
Bridget Bailey has been charged with felony misuse of public funds in Latah County Second District Court in Moscow. According to court documents the investigation began in January when Bailey reportedly tried to deposit a city check into her personal account at the Latah Credit Union in Potlatch. The bank then reported the attempted transaction to Onaway Mayor Sharon Shaffer after suspicious purchases were discovered on the city’s debit card. Onaway City Council quickly held an emergency meeting and fired Bailey in January.
Court documents show that Bailey told Mayor Shaffer that she accidentally used the city’s debit card for personal expenses. A Latah County Sheriff’s Deputy interviewed Bailey in March. Court records show that she reportedly admitted to the deputy that she spent the taxpayer dollars on personal expenses and that she planned to pay the city back. Bailey allegedly embezzled nearly 7,500 dollars in Onaway taxpayer funds between November of 2022 and December of last year.
Bailey is currently a Potlatch School District employee. She is listed as a JR./SR. High School Paraprofessional on the district’s website.
Bailey failed to show up to her initial court appearance Monday morning. She is now wanted on an arrest warrant according to online court records.
