Former HAVEN Director Tara Koch charged with theft of more than $96,000
Tara Koch. Photo from Zoominfo.com
by Cole Goodwin
Tara Koch, former Executive Director of HAVEN from Domestic and Sexual Violence in The Dalles was arrested on July 7th, 2022 in Washington County on 26 counts including theft, identity theft and forgery.
Koch has been charged with six counts of first degree theft, two counts of second degree theft and nine counts of aggravated theft from HAVEN, a non-profit organization that offers support and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking in Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler Counties.
Aggravated theft is a Class B felony for theft of $10,000 or more. First degree theft is a Class C felony for theft of $1,000 or more and second degree theft is a misdemeanor for the theft of $100 or more.
Bringing the total amount of money allegedly embezzled from HAVEN to more than $96,200.
Charges also included three counts of identity theft (a Class C felony), one count of aggravated identity theft (a Class B felony) and four counts of forgery in the first degree (a Class C Felony), for having allegedly forged the signatures of HAVEN board members.
In Oregon, a Class C felony can result in a maximum of five years in prison, a fine as much as $125,000 or both. Conviction of a Class B felony in Oregon can result in a maximum prison term of ten years, a potential fine of $250,000 or both.
According to Washington County Jail, Koch was released on a bail of $25,000 shortly after her arrest.
HAVEN officials said that an official statement about the secret indictment of Tara Koch will be released on Monday.
Koch will be tried in Wasco County on all 26 charges.
A complete list of the charges brought against Koch is available below:
Count I: Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.055/164.085, C Felony
Count 2: Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.055/164.085, C Felony
Count 3: Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.055/164.085, C Felony
Count 4: Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.055/164.085, C Felony
Count 5: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057/164.085, B Felony
Count 6: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057/164.085, B Felony
Count 7: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057/164.085, B Felony
Count 8: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057/164.085, B Felony
Count 9: Theft in the Second Degree, ORS 164.045/164.085, A Misdemeanor
Count 10: Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.055, C Felony
Count 11: Theft in the Second Degree, ORS 164.045/164.085, A Misdemeanor
Count 12: Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057, C Felony
Count 13: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057, B Felony
Count 14: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057, B Felony
Count 15: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057, B Felony
Count 16: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057, B Felony
Count 17: Aggravated Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057, B Felony
Count 18: Theft in the First Degree, ORS 164.057, C Felony
Count 19: Identity Theft, ORS 165.800, C Felony
Count 20: Forgery in the First Degree, ORS 165.013, C Felony
Count 21: Identity Theft, ORS 165.800, C Felony
Count 22: Forgery in the First Degree, ORS 165.013, C Felony
Count 23: Aggravated Identity Theft, ORS 165.803, B Felony
Count 24: Forgery in the First Degree, ORS 165.013, C Felony
Count 25: Identity Theft, ORS 165.800, C Felony
Count 26: Forgery in the First Degree, ORS 165.013, C Felony
