Elder indicted on two counts for allegedly stealing funds

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

Former Elders Committee Treasurer Julie Ann Little is scheduled to return to Polk County Circuit Court on Thursday, Dec. 19, to possibly change her not guilty plea to two charges of first-degree theft.

Little, 64, was indicted on two counts of first-degree theft by a Polk County grand jury on Oct. 29 after the grand jury heard testimony from Elders Committee Chairwoman Penny DeLoe and Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department Sgt. Rod McAllister.

The charges stem from Little allegedly stealing a $1,000 or more on two separate occasions from the Elders Committee fund – one that occurred between March 8 and July 11 and another that occurred between July 15 and July 31.

“The defendant … did unlawfully and knowingly commit theft of money, of the value of $1,000 or more, the property of Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde,” both felony counts state.

The indictment states that she allegedly spent the money in Yamhill, Polk and Tillamook counties.

Little was elected to the Elders Committee during the December 2018 election and resigned when the allegations against her surfaced.

She was cited and released by McAllister on Sept. 26.

The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department declined to release Little’s arrest report to Smoke Signals, citing that the Polk County District Attorney’s Office is not finished with the case. She is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kyle Haney.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Alicia Eagan said that first-degree theft charges generally receive sentences from between probation to five years maximum depending on a defendant’s criminal history.

“Last I heard they were working on a deal, but I didn’t hear if she took it,” said Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight in an e-mail.

Elders Committee Secretary-Treasurer Julie Duncan said that the Elders bank account decreased from approximately $7,400 to $58 during the first three months after Little took over as treasurer.

Duncan said she and Little were the only Elders Committee members with access to the funds, which were raised through bingo nights, fundraisers and other events to help pay for Elders activities and trips.

Duncan added that the Elders Committee voted to pursue legal action against Little. “It wasn’t just one person’s decision,” she said.

Duncan said the Tribe has reimbursed the Elders Committee the missing funds and Elders funds are now being funneled through the Finance Office to prevent a similar occurrence.

Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez said she was unable to comment on the specifics of the case.

Little, who lives in Dallas, is represented by Salem attorney Arthur B. Cummins.

Little initially declined to comment on her charges when contacted by Smoke Signals and then sent an e-mail response of Wednesday, Nov. 27. On Monday, Dec. 9, she retracted that comment, stating she plans to wait until after her Dec. 19 court date to comment to the newspaper. She also stated that she has not entered a plea. However, Polk County Circuit Court paperwork has her marked off as pleading not guilty.