Karen Blackwood (Cullman Police Department)
CULLMAN – The Cullman law firm representing Karen Cowart Blackwood, the president of the Cullman Cyclones Youth Football Association who was arrested Tuesday and charged with stealing $14,000 from the organization, on Friday released a statement.
It reads: “The law firm of O’Neal & Kilgo has been retained to represent Ms. Karen Blackwood on the pending criminal charges connected with the Cullman Cyclones organization. Ms. Blackwood has fully cooperated with the authorities during this investigation. When our firm learned that there was a warrant for Ms. Blackwood’s arrest, we made immediate arrangements for her surrender at the Cullman County Detention Center. We at the law firm of O’Neal & Kilgo are proud members and supporters of the Cullman community. We understand the negative impact that this case has had on Cullman and we look forward to our client’s day in court so that this matter can be brought to a resolution.”
Blackwood, 41, is charged with first-degree theft of property, third-degree forgery and fraudulent use of a debit or credit card.
Sgt. Todd Chiaranda, a financial crimes investigator with the Cullman Police Department, said in a statement Thursday, "In June of this year I launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from the Cullman Cyclones Youth Football Association in reference to missing monies. The investigation led to the arrest of the association’s president, 41-year-old Karen Cowart Blackwood of Cullman."
Chiaranda said evidence collected during the investigation indicates Blackwood embezzled more than $14,000 from the Cyclones’ operating account while serving as the association president from January 2018 to June 2018.
After reviewing the evidence, said Chiaranda, the Cullman County District Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for Blackwood's arrest. Blackwood turned herself in at the Cullman County Detention Center. She was released on an $18,000 property bond.
Blackwood Press Release by TheCullmanTribune on Scribd
Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
