Posted at: 03/03/2010 8:50 PM | KSAX.com
By: Becky Nahm

| Print Story  Email to a Friend

Troop leader accused of stealing scouts' dough

A Twin Cities girl scout leader was charged with theft for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in proceeds from her troop's cookie sales.

Joleen Hopkins, 54, of Mendota Heights, was accused of taking more than $8,000 in 2008 and 2009.

Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said, "She would basically accept some of the checks, take some of that money, use it personally for some debts at her home, for some gambling that we believe she was involved in."

A criminal complaint alleged that Hopkins wrote bad checks to repay the troops and the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys Chapter.

Investigators said Hopkins told them her family's personal bills were piling up because she and her husband were out of work.

According to the criminal complaint, Hopkins' husband was the cookie manager for her girl scout troop.

He has not been charged.

Hopkins was charged with six theft charges, including three felonies.

Hopkins, who also used the name Joleen Tillman, pleaded guilty in 2009 to stealing food stamps back in 2007.

She was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay more than $700 in restitution.

A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS crew went to Hopkins' home seeking comment, but no one answered the door.