A former City of Chelan employee has been charged with second degree theft after about $15,000 went missing from the Lake Chelan Golf Course during her employment there.

Breanna Bailiff is accused of stealing the money from the golf course pro shop during the 2009 and 2010 golf seasons. Chelan finance officials said much of the money vanished in the form of greens fees refunded in cash to nonexistent golfers. Course managers discovered the losses following a state audit last fall.

Investigators interviewed Bailiff with her attorney in April and said she admitted taking as much as $10,000 cash to help finance her schooling at Lake Washington Technical College where she is currently enrolled as a dentistry student.

Baliff offered to return the bulk of the money in exchange for leniency according to detectives. The maximum penalty for being convicted of second degree theft is five years in prison. Bailiff is expected to enter a plea agreement June 15. She was arraigned last Wednesday, her 21st birthday.