TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024, 5:20 p.m.
(WFRV) – The Bonduel man who is accused of embezzling over $275,000 with his wife while employed at a contracting company had his arraignment hearing on Tuesday.
Court records show that 54-year-old John Petcka was in court with his attorney at the Brown County Courthouse.
The present bond was continued, as a status conference has been set for Dec. 13 at 9:45 a.m.
UPDATE: Bonduel man accused of embezzling over $275k with his wife set to be arraigned
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024, 9:00 p.m.
(WFRV) – A Bonduel man accused of embezzling over $275,000 with his wife while working for a contracting company made a court appearance on Tuesday.
Wisconsin Circuit Court records show that 54-year-old John Petcka appeared in the Brown County Courthouse, where his arraignment was scheduled for mid-October.
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John Petcka will be arraigned on October 15 at 4:00 p.m. As for his wife, Deborah Petcka, she had previously pleaded not guilty to her charges and is set for a two-day jury trial on September 18 and 19.
Local 5 News will continue to provide updates and follow these cases as they progress through the court system.
Married couple accused of embezzling over $275k make court appearances, both waive preliminary hearings
Friday, 05/31/24, 2:20 p.m.
(WFRV) – A married couple from Bonduel who is accused of embezzling over $275,000 from a contracting company while the husband worked there have since made individual court appearances.
Court records show that both John Petcka and Deborah Petcka have waived their preliminary hearings and have had arraignment dates set.
Deborah had her signature bond set at $5,000 on April 29 and waived her preliminary hearing during a May 21 court appearance. She is due back in court on June 25 for an arraignment.
John waived his preliminary hearing on May 30 and is due back in court on August 1 for an arraignment.
Local 5 will continue to update this story as new information is obtained.
Married couple accused of embezzling over $275k while the husband worked at Hobart contracting company
Monday, 04/29/24, 4:54 p.m.
(WFRV) – A married couple from Bonduel was officially charged after allegedly embezzling over $275,000 from a contracting company while the husband worked there.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Local 5, 54-year-old John Petcka and his wife 54-year-old Deborah Petcka have been charged in an apparent embezzlement scheme. Back in December of 2022, authorities were notified of an embezzlement complaint from the owners of a contracting company in Hobart.
An investigation reportedly showed that a total of 404 checks were issued by then-employee John Petcka. These checks were drawn on the company bank account between November 2017 and October 2022.
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The checks reportedly totaled $275,650.96. The complaint alleges that all of these checks were unauthorized. The complaint says that John’s wife, Deborah, was listed on QuickBooks for cashing checks. This allegedly indicated that she was cashing checks at Menards.
Authorities spoke with the business owners who said John was hired as an office manager in 2017. John reportedly did payroll expenses and was later terminated in February of 2023.
The complaint says that John had a signature stamp of the owner’s signature. The owners told authorities that John was never permitted to buy anything for personal use.
It is alleged that John issued 65 unauthorized checks to himself totaling $128.813.32. One of the checks was reportedly for $30,000. Additionally, one check was issued to a car dealership for $26,000.
This check was reportedly for a truck. The complaint also claims that there was a check issued for the purchase of a personal off-road vehicle for $5,913.
John is also accused of issuing 113 unauthorized checks to Menards that totaled $32,201.37.
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Three unauthorized checks totaling $2,306.10 were issued by John to Deborah. The complaint says that she never worked or contracted for the company.
Below is a breakdown of the charges the two are facing:
- John Petcka
- Felony Theft – Business Setting Over $100,000
- Felony
- Up to 12 and a half years in prison
- Unauthorized use of an Entity’s Identifying Information or Documents
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison
- Unauthorized use of an Entity’s Identifying Information or Documents
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison
- Unauthorized use of an Entity’s Identifying Information or Documents
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison
- Unauthorized use of an Entity’s Identifying Information or Documents
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison
- Unauthorized use of an Entity’s Identifying Information or Documents
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison
- Unauthorized use of an Entity’s Identifying Information or Documents
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison
- Unauthorized use of an Entity’s Identifying Information or Documents
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison
- Unauthorized use of an Entity’s Identifying Information or Documents
- Felony
- Up to six years in prison
- Felony Theft – Business Setting Over $100,000
- Deborah Petcka
- Theft-Business Setting Over $100,000 (Party to a Crime)
- Felony
- Identity Theft – Obtain Money or Credit
- Felony
- Theft-Business Setting Over $100,000 (Party to a Crime)
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Court records show that John’s last court appearance was on April 29, where he had his signature bond set at $10,000 and is scheduled to be back in court on May 30 for a preliminary hearing.
Deborah had her signature bond set at $5,000 on April 29 and waived her preliminary hearing during a May 21 court appearance. She is due back in court on June 25 for an arraignment.
The two were told to not discuss the case with each other, according to court records.
Local 5 will continue to update this story as the case moves forward.
