Alleged theft from employer lands Red Oak woman in jail

 An ongoing investigation led to an arrest last week of a Red Oak woman, who is accused of stealing from M&M Auto Body, at Hawkeye Ford, her rural Red Oak employer. 

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office filed multiple counts of theft against Janet Lynn Tarbox, 39, of 211 W. Coolbaugh St. She was originally arrested Wednesday and jailed on a $10,000 bond. She was additionally charged Friday and her bond was increased to $20,000. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail as of Monday morning.

On Wednesday, the sheriff’s department filed one count of first degree theft, two counts of second degree theft, one count of third degree theft, and one count of fourth degree theft.

On Friday, the department charged her with one count of second degree theft, one count of third degree theft, and four counts of fourth degree theft.

The press release from the sheriff’s department on Friday said additional charges are expected.

Charges on file in the district court for Montgomery County as of Friday included:

• First degree theft, a Class C felony: That charge said on March 8 Tarbox “issued herself a check from the M&M Auto Body account for the amount of $37,000.” The filing also said “it is unknown what she did with the money.”

•  Second degree theft, a Class D felony: That charge said on Feb. 15 Tarbox issued herself a check from the M&M Auto Body account for $4,000, and that she deposited the money in her account.

• Second degree theft: That charge alleges she “took the deposit from M&M Body Shop to Houghton State Bank in Red Oak. She took $1,600 cash out of the deposit and kept the money for herself.”

• Fourth degree theft, a serious misdemeanor: There were three counts on file – one accusing of her of taking $450 cash from a deposit on Jan. 25, one accusing her of taking $250 cash from a deposit on Feb. 3, and one for issuing herself a check for $300 from the M&M Auto Body account on Feb. 29.