Plea change hearing set for former Garner Chamber director accused of embezzlement

GARNER — A plea change hearing has been scheduled for the former director of the Garner Chamber of Commerce who was accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from the organization.

52-year-old Rebecca Olson was charged last July with ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony, as well as first-degree theft, unauthorized use of a credit card over $10,000, third-degree criminal mischief, and committing a sales tax violation without a retail sale permit.

Olson was the director of the Garner Chamber between January 2021 and April 2024. A criminal complaint states that bank statements and receipts showed that during that time period, Olson made multiple unauthorized purchases using the Chamber’s checking and credit card accounts as well as with a local grocery store account. The amounts taken out of the checking and credit card accounts each was over $10,000.

Olson was scheduled to be tried on the charges starting on Wednesday, but court records show that a plea change hearing has now been scheduled for July 8th in Hancock County District Court.