The former business manager of Eugene Weekly was arrested Tuesday over the alleged embezzlement of the paper.
Elisha Young, 37, was arrested in Ohio following an indictment by a Lane County Grand Jury. She’s facing three counts of first-degree aggravated theft, and two counts of first-degree theft.
In an email to KLCC, Eugene Police Department spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin said Young will be extradited to Oregon to face her charges.
Young worked at the Weekly from 2018 until late 2023, according to the publication’s website. She’s now accused of stealing money from the paper, and failing to pay some of its business partners.
After the Weekly announced it discovered the embezzlement scheme in December 2023, it paused printing for several issues, citing debt and financial turmoil.
However, the paper was able to start printing again in February 2024, following an outpouring of public support and a successful fundraising campaign.
The Weekly was first to report on the arrest Wednesday. Its editor, Camilla Mortensen, told KLCC the news brings a mixture of regret and relief.
“There are folks who have been really wanting to know what happened, and expressing doubt,” said Mortensen. “And so to be able to finally say, ‘this is what happened and here are the charges’ is the large part of the relief.”
Mortensen previously shared her recollection of the embezzlement in a Weekly article from last April, although Young was not directly named in that piece.
Today, Mortensen said the Weekly is still paying off debts to its printer accrued during the embezzlement. She said she hopes a court will grant the newspaper some financial restitution.
