A Vancouver woman who previously worked for the juvenile justice system in Multnomah County, Ore., was arrested Thursday night for allegedly embezzling more than $16,000 from the public agency.
Multnomah County sheriff’s detectives completed a three-month investigation Thursday by arresting Davia Nemkevich, 42, on suspicion of first-degree official misconduct and 11 counts of theft for misuse of public funds.
Nemkevich worked as a nutrition services manager at Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Home, which includes the juvenile court system and detention center for youth being adjudicated.
A Multnomah County employee contacted Sheriff Dan Staton on April 16, alerting law enforcement to the possible misuse of public funds by another employee.
Detectives launched an investigation, which included an audit that reviewed Nemkevich’s county purchases between July 1, 2011, and April 30. Investigators found a pattern of Nemkevich’s purchasing items that were not for county use, along with misuse of county equipment and other resources for personal gain, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
A significant portion of the purchases, police said, were made within the last 12 months.
The suspected loss was conservatively estimated to be $16,757.91, law enforcement said.
Nemkevich was placed on administrative leave on March 11 after the Department of Community Justice launched an internal investigation.
She was taken into custody after meeting with detectives Thursday evening, and was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
