UMass Rec Bookkeeper Pleads Not Guilty

Former University of Massachusetts Lowell bookkeeper Denise Daly has been ordered to stay away from all UMass campuses after pleading not guilty to multiple charges related to the theft of  $200,000 from the university recreation center.

Daly was released on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to charges of  five counts larceny, falsifying books, forgery of a document, uttering a false writing and intimidation of a witness.

In addition to being banned from all UMass campuses, Daly was only ordered to have no contact with any of the witnesses involved with the case. A pretrial conference is scheduled for February 25.

Mass officials began an Investigation after a review of the financial records for the recreation center showed inconsistencies. Officials determined more than $200,000 in cash had been stolen between July 2007 to October 2013. The investigation, which wrapped up in May 2014, focused heavily on Daly.

The stolen funds were cash receipts were generated from items such as locker fees, guest fees and towel rentals, sources of supplemental income for the recreation center. The recreation center had significant growth starting in 2008, which caused cash receipts to escalate.

UMass has since implemented new cash control procedures.