TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025, 8:45 P.M.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A Bonduel woman accused of embezzling more than six figures from a business alongside her husband has been sentenced to jail time.
Court records show that 55-year-old Deborah Petcka was sentenced to six months in jail followed by two years of probation. The sentencing was handed down by Brown County Judge Donald Zuidmulder.
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The sentence stems from an embezzlement scheme involving her husband, 54-year-old John Petcka, in which the couple reportedly stole more than $275,000 from a contracting company where John worked.
In December 2022, authorities were notified of an embezzlement complaint from the owners of a Hobart-based contracting company. An investigation revealed that 404 checks were issued by John Petcka between November 2017 and October 2022.
The checks reportedly totaled $275,650.96 and were drawn from the company’s bank account. All of the checks were allegedly unauthorized. The complaint notes that Deborah Petcka was listed in QuickBooks as cashing checks, some of which were reportedly used at Menards.
Authorities said John Petcka was hired as an office manager in 2017 and was responsible for payroll. He was terminated in February 2023.
The complaint alleges John had access to a signature stamp for the company’s owner and was never authorized to make personal purchases. He is accused of issuing 65 unauthorized checks to himself, totaling $128,813.32, including one for $30,000.
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Other unauthorized checks included one for $26,000 to a car dealership for a truck and another for $5,913 for a personal off-road vehicle.
Deborah Petcka allegedly received three unauthorized checks totaling $2,306.10, despite not working or contracting for the company.
Bonduel woman accused of embezzlement has pre-trial date moved
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025, 2:00 P.M.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A Bonduel woman accused of embezzling more than six figures from a business appeared in court earlier this month, where her final pre-trial date was rescheduled.
According to court records, 55-year-old Deborah Petcka attended a status conference on March 3, and her final pre-trial was set for March 31. Her two-day jury trial is scheduled for May 28 and 29.
Petcka faces two felony charges for her alleged role in the embezzlement scheme with her husband, John Petcka.
Local 5 News will provide updates as the case progresses.
UPDATE: Final pre-trial, jury trial dates set for Bonduel woman charged in embezzlement scheme
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2025, 11:49 a.m.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)—The Bonduel woman accused of embezzling over $100,000 from a business appeared in court on Monday, and trial dates have been officially set.
Court records show that 55-year-old Deborah Petcka was in court as the present bond continued. Petcka’s final pre-trial date was set for March 3 at 11 a.m.
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Her two-day jury trial was also set for March 5 and March 6 at 8:15 a.m. on both days.
This story will be updated as needed.
UPDATE: Trial dates pushed into 2025 for Bonduel woman charged in embezzlement scheme
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024, 4:30 P.M.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The jury trial for a Bonduel woman accused of embezzling over $100,000 from a business has been rescheduled for 2025.
According to Wisconsin Circuit Court records, 55-year-old Deborah Petcka appeared in court on December 6 for a status conference before Brown County Judge Donald Zuidmulder.
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During the hearing, Petcka’s current bond was upheld. Her final pre-trial hearing is now set for February 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with a two-day jury trial tentatively scheduled to begin on March 5, 2025.
Local 5 News will provide updates as the case progresses through the court system.
UPDATE: Bonduel woman charged in embezzlement scheme has trial dates set
FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2024, 5:53 p.m.
(WFRV) – The Bonduel woman who is charged with embezzling over $100,000 from a business is set for a jury trial later this year. Her husband is also involved in the alleged scheme.
Court records show that 55-year-old Deborah Petcka appeared in court on Friday with her attorney as the present bond continued.
Petcka’s final pre-trial date is set for Dec. 6 at 9 a.m., while both of her jury trial dates are set for 8:15 a.m. on Dec. 18 and Dec. 19.
Bonduel woman charged in embezzlement scheme pleads not guilty, headed to trial
WEDNESDAY, June 26, 2024 10:08 p.m.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A 54-year-old Bonduel woman charged with embezzling over $100,000 from a business is headed to jury trial after pleading not guilty on Tuesday.
Deborah L. Petcka was arraigned in the Brown County Courthouse on June 25. Court records show that she entered not guilty pleas. Her present bond will be continued until a jury trial.
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Her final pre-trial is scheduled for September 13, while the two-day jury trial will be on September 18 and 19.
This all results from an alleged embezzlement scheme with her husband, 54-year-old John Petcka, where the couple reportedly stole over $275,000 from a contracting company while John worked there.
Back in December of 2022, authorities were notified of an embezzlement complaint from the owners of a contracting company in Hobart.
An investigation reportedly showed that a total of 404 checks were issued by then-employee John Petcka. These checks were drawn on the company bank account between November 2017 and October 2022.
The checks reportedly totaled $275,650.96. The complaint alleges that all of these checks were unauthorized. The complaint says that John’s wife, Deborah, was listed on QuickBooks for cashing checks. This allegedly indicated that she was cashing checks at Menards.
Authorities spoke with the business owners, who said John was hired as an office manager in 2017. John reportedly did payroll expenses and was later terminated in February of 2023.
The complaint says that John had a signature stamp of the owner’s signature. The owners told authorities that John was never permitted to buy anything for personal use.
It is alleged that John issued 65 unauthorized checks to himself, totaling $128.813.32. One of the checks was reportedly for $30,000. Additionally, one check was issued to a car dealership for $26,000. This check was reportedly for a truck. The complaint also claims that a check for $5,913 was issued for the purchase of a personal off-road vehicle.
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John issued Deborah three unauthorized checks totaling $2,306.10. The complaint says she never worked or contracted for the company.
John is expected to be back in court on August 1 to be arraigned.
