A 36-year-old woman who worked as the director of the Cold Bay Public Library is accused of using the library's debit card to buy herself manicures, clothing, electronics and more, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Troopers arrested Alicia Peltier on Thursday. She is charged with second-degree theft and fraudulent use of an access device, both felonies.
Peltier worked as the director of the library in Cold Bay between November 2016 and October 2017. During that time, she "used the library's debit card as if it were her own," spending just over $10,000 on personal purchases, according to a court document filed in support of the charges and signed by Trooper Nasruk Nay.
The debit card was tied to a bank account fed by state grants, the trooper said in the court document. The money was supposed to fund expenses such as books, DVDs and internet service for the library, located in the tiny town of Cold Bay at the edge of Alaska's Aleutian Islands.
But Peltier used the debit card in Anchorage and Florida to buy clothes, food, toiletries, electronics, household items, postage and excess baggage at PenAir, according to the trooper. She used the card at Walmart, Walgreens, Best Buy, liquor stores, restaurants and hair and nail salons.
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The trooper said Peltier admitted to using the library's debit card to purchase items for herself and her home.
"She stated she feels bad about it and knows she has to pay the money back," the trooper said. "Peltier stated that she used the library debit card for personal use because she wanted to provide a better life for her children."
Peltier has no previous criminal convictions in Alaska, according to court records. She had her first court date in the case Friday.