Investigation into CMHA funds continues | Villa Rican

Despite Jodie Goodman’s guilty plea and sentencing on June 18, authorities said the investigation into the embezzlement of funds from Carroll County Mental Health Advocates is still active and ongoing.

Last month, law enforcement officials confirmed that the investigation had expanded and may involve multiple suspects in addition to Goodman, who was fired as the organization’s executive director earlier this year after being accused of misusing funds from a CCMHA donations account.

An investigation was launched in January after investigators with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office were alerted to discrepancies with a debit card linked to the organization. Goodman was sentenced to 30 years’ probation by Judge Travis Sakrison after pleading guilty to two counts of theft in a settlement on Tuesday. She must also pay more than $21,000 in restitution.

According to prosecutors, the criminal investigation uncovered at least 150 different personal transactions that Goodman made in 2022 and 2023.

Goodman claimed her actions were part of a “mental health crisis” she was experiencing. However, during the victim impact statement, Debbie Neal – a CMHA board member – spoke about the personal impact of the allegations, saying she “didn’t believe” Goodman’s apology.

“(Goodman was) treated with kid gloves. Of all the people on the planet, she had access to more help than anyone else,” Neal said in court.

Neal said she considered Goodman a friend and even co-signed a car loan for Goodman while she was with CMHA, unaware that she was misusing the organization’s funds.

Following the opinion, the judge refused treatment under the First Offender Act and allowed the negotiated agreement.

“If you get the $21,000 back, will everyone be back on their feet and you can provide the services like before?” Sakrison asked Neal.

“The way (Goodman) did things … it’s hard to quantify that,” Neal replied.

According to Carroll County authorities, Goodman was taken to the Carroll County Jail following the proceedings and immediately released.