The Jefferson County Building, which houses the Jefferson County Combined Courts, is pictured March 9, 2016, in Golden. (Katie Wood/The Denver Post)
The owner of a program for adults with development disabilities in Littleton has been charged with stealing from another program for adults with development disabilities in Littleton.
Courtney Ward, 44, was charged by Jefferson County prosecutors last month with theft of $100,000-$1 million and identity theft, both of which are felonies, and released on $10,000 bond. Her defense attorney, Jeremy Wooten at Burnham Law, declined to comment.
Ward owns and operates Inspired Innovations, which provides transportation and activities for clients between Colorado Springs and Boulder, according to its website.
Ward, of Littleton, is accused of stealing from Encouraging Development, where she was the office manager and bookkeeper between late 2007 and early 2024, according to a lawsuit that company filed last year. She was also married to owner Dave Drum from 2009-2014.
Courtney Ward. (LinkedIn)
After Ward resigned in January 2024, Encouraging Development “discovered that Ward had engaged in an extensive, years-long scheme to steal” $863,390, its lawsuit alleged.
Ward’s alleged scheme, which operated between late 2018 and early 2024, included writing $420,000 in company checks to herself, withdrawing $136,000 from company accounts at ATMs, wiring $126,000 to herself and paying off $90,000 in personal expenses.
Encouraging Development later amended its lawsuit to include Ward’s mother as a defendant after supposedly discovering that Ward had gifted her $300,000. Encouraging Development saw this as a conspiracy to keep that money away from the company.
Ward denied stealing from her former employer and ex-husband’s company. Encouraging Development dropped the case without explanation in April, two months before trial.
Then, on July 3, Ward was indicted on the two felony counts. A trial date has not been set.
The Jefferson County Building, which houses the Jefferson County Combined Courts, is pictured March 9, 2016, in Golden. (Katie Wood/The Denver Post)
The owner of a program for adults with development disabilities in Littleton has been charged with stealing from another program for adults with development disabilities in Littleton.
Courtney Ward, 44, was charged by Jefferson County prosecutors last month with theft of $100,000-$1 million and identity theft, both of which are felonies, and released on $10,000 bond. Her defense attorney, Jeremy Wooten at Burnham Law, declined to comment.
Ward owns and operates Inspired Innovations, which provides transportation and activities for clients between Colorado Springs and Boulder, according to its website.
Ward, of Littleton, is accused of stealing from Encouraging Development, where she was the office manager and bookkeeper between late 2007 and early 2024, according to a lawsuit that company filed last year. She was also married to owner Dave Drum from 2009-2014.
Courtney Ward. (LinkedIn)
After Ward resigned in January 2024, Encouraging Development “discovered that Ward had engaged in an extensive, years-long scheme to steal” $863,390, its lawsuit alleged.
Ward’s alleged scheme, which operated between late 2018 and early 2024, included writing $420,000 in company checks to herself, withdrawing $136,000 from company accounts at ATMs, wiring $126,000 to herself and paying off $90,000 in personal expenses.
Encouraging Development later amended its lawsuit to include Ward’s mother as a defendant after supposedly discovering that Ward had gifted her $300,000. Encouraging Development saw this as a conspiracy to keep that money away from the company.
Ward denied stealing from her former employer and ex-husband’s company. Encouraging Development dropped the case without explanation in April, two months before trial.
Then, on July 3, Ward was indicted on the two felony counts. A trial date has not been set.
