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last mo.

South Lake Tahoe Mayor’s Church Theft Allegedly Tops $300,000, Lawyer Says

Prosecutors opened an inquiry after the church reported the loss following Tamara Wallace’s termination.

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South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace in a 2021 photo. Wallace admitted to stealing from the church she worked from. An attorney for the church said the amount stolen was around $300,000. 
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Overview

  • The church’s attorney said the shortfall exceeds $300,000 and described the loss as significant for the congregation.
  • Mayor Tamara Wallace admitted in an Oct. 6 letter that she took church funds over time and said guilt led to a Sept. 11 suicide attempt followed by 18 days of inpatient treatment.
  • Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church said it discovered the loss, fired Wallace on Sept. 26, and referred the matter to the El Dorado County District Attorney.
  • Wallace has claimed she turned herself in by providing account access, a characterization the church’s lawyer publicly disputed.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Cody Bass faces Nevada misdemeanors for trespassing and threats or harassment after a Stateline altercation, with an assault count dropped, while city officials say both officeholders plan to attend the Oct. 21 council meeting and services continue normally.