'Mrs. Westchester County' Arrested, Accused Of Stealing From Group Home

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mrs. Westchester County 2014 can add a new title to her resume: accused thief.

Jennifer Czarniecki, 31, of Mohegan Lake, is accused of making false bookkeeping entries for a Somers Group Home in an attempt to hide personal expenses she incurred while using client funds over a short period of time, police said.

Czarniecki was arrested by state police in Somers on Sept. 5, and was charged with falsifying business records in the second-degree and petit larceny.

As CBS 2's Dave Carlin reported, the first clue in the case was a suspicious $215 charge at a Shop rite supermarket on a Living Resources Corporation card.

Czarniecki's supervisor told police about an additional $2,000 that had been unaccounted for.

"You don't go and use their money and buy yourself stuff," Doug O'Keefe said.

She was processed and released on an appearance ticket for the charges returnable in the Town of Somers Court on Sept. 15.

Czarniecki was crowned Mrs. Westchester County in January.

On Sept. 12, she posted on her Facebook page: "I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you for your support and love over the past 9 months of my reign as Mrs. Westchester County 2014. I will not be competing this year at the Mrs. New York Pageant due to personal circumstances. However I plan on coming back for 2015 stronger than ever!"

"She's supposed to be representing. She's not role modeling for anyone," Cydney Powell said.

Czarniecki hinted that she may try to return to the limelight.

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