The former finance director of Substance Abuse Treatment Unit of Central Iowa headquartered in Marshalltown has been arrested on several felony charges in connection with the alleged embezzlement of more than $82,000 in funds.

According to a press release issued Thursday by Capt. Mike Hanken of the Marshalltown Police Department, Amy Elizabeth Trainer Howell, 36, of Des Moines, was arrested by Des Moines police Wednesday.

She was charged with one count of first-degree theft,

a Class C felony; one count of ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony; and 14 counts of forgery, all Class D felonies.

Howell was transported to the Polk County Jail, and later transferred to the Marshall County Jail where she remains on a $25,000 cash or surety bond.

“Beginning Aug. 9, a MPD detective began an investigation into the embezzlement of SATUCI funds,” said Hanken. “After meeting with SATUCI administration and receiving a full accounting of the loss, the investigation continued with a suspect identified and arrest warrants obtained.”

Based upon information gathered during the investigation,   it is alleged from April 2014 to July 2016, a total of $82,269 was stolen from SATUCI by Howell.

Howell will make her initial court appearance in Marshall County District Court today.

SATUCI Executive Director Vickie Lewis was out of town, and could not be reached for comment.

Agency finance director Kelli Hellburg referred all questions to SATUCI attorney Kevin O’Hare of Peglow, O’Hare & See, Marshalltown.

O’Hare said he could not comment since the investigation is ongoing.

SATUCI is a non-profit, state-funded, community-based agency which has provided substance abuse prevention and treatment services to residents of Marshall, Tama, Poweshiek and Hardin counties since 1980, according to its website.