Chairwoman of festival accused of stealing from festival

NOBLE COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - The chairwoman of a long-time festival in Ligonier has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars. Police said she also stole a huge amount of money from her former employer as well.

The Mayor of Ligonier is hopeful Marshmallow Festival will still be a go this year.

"I believe this community has what it takes to come together and we will make this festival go on," Mayor Patty Fisel said.

The festival chairwoman, Tamara Deel, has been accused of stealing more than $120,000 from her former employer and $15,000 from the festival. The Mayor Fisel said folks are coming together to see the festival through.

"We plan to continue the festival in light of the fact that we've been given negative news."

According to court documents, Deel was also running a scheme to steal money from banks.

"We have characterized it as an ongoing scheme using both the festival account money and her former employers accounts. She(Deel) was moving money between them and thereby ending up with things in her house such as appliances, Longaberger baskets, etc.," Noble County Prosecutor Steven Clouse said.

Mayor Fisel said the festival is fun but also an important part of the towns heritage.

"Even though we don't make marshmallows in this city any longer, we were the marshmallow capital of the world," Fisel said.

The Noble County Prosecutor said a judge has froze the festivals account. It was only in Deel's name. They're working on transferring it into someone else's name.

"Certainly it's a little out of our job description to organize the festival but on the other hand we want to do what we can for those community folks who want to see the festival continue this year and many years beyond," Clouse said.

Deel has been charged with two counts of theft and one count of fraud on an institution. As of Wednesday afternoon, she was still in jail on a $10,000 bond.