Bookstore manager arrested Tuesday

The former manager of the Eagle Pride Bookstore was released from Sheridan County Jail Tuesday night after police arrested her earlier that day on a warrant accusing her of stealing $10,500 from the store, a Chadron Police Department press release states.

Sarah Porter, 25, of Gordon, posted 10 percent of $10,000 bond after Nebraska State Patrol executed the warrant in Sheridan County, and transported her to the Sheridan County Jail. The theft is a Class IIA felony, the release states.

The Eagle Pride Bookstore is owned by Follett Corporation of Winchester, Illinois. Police said Follett employees provided detailed information from a Feb. 8 store audit that showed $10,591.28 was missing from the company’s safe, according to internally-generated safe reports dating to September 2015, the release states.

Follett spokesperson Haleigh Morgan responded to calls from The Eagle in an email Thursday morning stating, “Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on an open investigation.”

Eagle Pride Bookstore employee Nathan Pindell said Wednesday afternoon, that Porter is not the manager of the store and that the store does “not have a standing manager at this time.”

After receiving the information, Chadron Police Department conducted an investigation over several weeks before the warrant for Porter was issued. The Chadron Police Department was assisted by the Dawes County Attorney’s Office and Nebraska State Patrol.