Former arts council employee waives preliminary hearing on forgery charges

The former administrative assistant for the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri who is charged with felony forgery waived her preliminary hearing Tuesday before Associate Circuit Court Judge Scott Thomsen, who bound over the case to division two of the court.

Valaree Rutherford, 24, of Cape Girardeau is accused of using a credit card belonging to the not-for-profit agency to purchase gift cards and a GPS unit. Rutherford, who allegedly charged about $13,000 to the card, was not reportedly authorized to use the card for that purpose.

Rutherford is set to appear before a judge again at 9 a.m.June 21.