Charges filed against former financial clerk of The Living Planet Aquarium

Charges were filed today against a former financial clerk of The Living Planet Aquarium.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's office charged Michelle Baer, who was a clerk at the aquarium for four months, with numerous felony counts, including theft and forgery, both third-degree felonies; theft by deception and a third count of theft, both class A misdemeanors.

Sandy police and the district attorney have been investigating the case for two months. Baer, 41, was fired in February, after aquarium leaders noticed she was reducing the medical and dental benefits on her paychecks.

"It's a good thing she was caught and identified, and I hope she gets help as a result of this. I'm sad for Michelle, because I know this is going to be a tough road for her," said aquarium board chairman Brad Carroll. "At the same time, I'm glad from the aquarium's perspective that our financial systems were in place to catch it quickly."

Since Baer's termination, the aquarium has started doing background checks on all employees who handle money, Carroll said: "A lesson learned." A background check was never done on Baer, he said.

The total loss to the aquarium was about $5,700, but Carroll said Baer was terminated for theft of approximately $700 in aquarium funds.

Amid the financial turmoil, the Sandy aquarium has had 10 of its 12 board members resign in the past three months. The remaining leaders are hoping to start fresh with a new board and build a larger exhibit somewhere in Salt Lake County. Two new board members will be voted onto the board during a board meeting tonight.

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