Mark Schlachtenhaufen
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — A former worker for an Oklahoma association formed to help abused and neglected children was ordered to prison Monday after pleading guilty to his part in embezzling about $500,000.
Tom Bates, assistant attorney general, said today’s development puts an end to the sentencing phase, and Attorney General Drew Edmondson wanted to make it clear that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in Oklahoma.
Eugene M. Naukam III, of Edmond, will serve a 20-year sentence, with five years incarceration and 15 years probation, after pleading guilty in Oklahoma County District Court to one count of conspiracy to commit a felony and 41 counts of embezzlement.
Naukam worked as a special projects coordinator for the Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, an umbrella organization for local CASA programs across the state. CASA programs consist of volunteers appointed by judges to advocate for children involved in the family courts or social service system.
Naukam also was ordered to pay more than $148,000 in restitution, of which he has already paid almost $43,000.
Naukam’s wife, Anna Naukam, of Edmond, CASA Oklahoma’s former executive director, pleaded guilty Sept. 4, 2009, to one count of conspiracy to commit a felony and 148 counts of embezzlement. She was ordered to serve a 35-year sentence, with 15 years incarceration followed by 20 years of probation, and ordered to pay $549,024.11 in restitution.
Attorney General Drew Edmondson said restitution, coupled with the restitution CASA will receive from his wife when she completes her prison sentence, should make the organization financially whole.
“Unfortunately, it will take a significant amount of time for this debt to be repaid,” Edmondson said in a news release.
Sheryl Marseilles, interim director of Oklahoma CASA, said the organization is glad to have the restitution that has been repaid and will be paid. Marseilles said the association has already moved on, but the news is a relief.
“We’re very glad that it’s over,” Marseilles said.
Marseilles said new financial safeguards have been in place for some time now. She urged individuals to consider volunteering with the organization or making a financial contribution.
CASA volunteers are appointed to represent the best interests of children and they serve as that voice in the courtroom, Marseilles said. They continue to monitor their child’s progress.
Last year, CASA helped 3,700 abused and neglected children in Oklahoma.
The Naukams were indicted by a multi-county grand jury Aug. 18 on accusations that they spent taxpayer and donated funds over a six-year period on clothing, home remodel work, football tickets, college tuition, cosmetic surgery, dental expenses, health club memberships, magazine subscriptions, veterinarian bills and vacation expenses.
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