Woman Accused of Bethany College Embezzlement Enters Plea Agreement

The woman accused of embezzling $500,000 from Bethany College was back in court on Monday for a pre-trial hearing.

In November, Shelly Lough pleaded not guilty to two counts of embezzlement and falsifying accounts. On Monday, both parties reached a plea agreement, however, nothing has been committed to in writing. Brooke County Prosecutor Joe Barki says the plea agreement includes a plea of guilty to two felony charges and an appropriate sentence that is fair and agreeable with the victims in this case. He believes that the case will be resolved in January.

The case began in October of this year, when a financial audit revealed that more than $500,000 in cash was unaccounted for in accounts relating to the college's cash window, which is used to cash student and employee checks.