Molalla City Councilor Indicted on Multiple Felony Theft Charges

Molalla City Councilor Rae Lynn Botsford has been indicted on 24 felony charges, including aggravated identity theft, first-degree theft, and falsifying business records, following an investigation into unauthorized use of a parent volunteer group's funds while she served as treasurer for the Molalla River Middle School Parent Action Committee. Botsford allegedly made more than 180 unauthorized transactions between 2022 and 2024, with about $20,000 in funds reportedly missing. The investigation was led by Canby Police to avoid conflicts of interest, after a theft call in August 2024 implicated Botsford. City officials emphasized that Botsford had no access to city funds and that municipal finances remain secure. The Parent Action Committee has since implemented stricter financial controls, and city leaders, including the mayor, have called for Botsford's resignation. Botsford, who has served on the council since January 2023, is scheduled for her next court appearance on July 1, 2025, and remains under investigation.