Police: Ex-BYU-Idaho employee stole thousands of dollars from school
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REXBURG — A former Brigham Young University-Idaho student employee is facing a felony charge after police say he used a campus credit card for personal use.
John Bottema, 25, is accused of using the BYU-Idaho card to withdraw money from ATMs in Utah, Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Rexburg on Jan. 2 and 3. Police say he withdrew a total amount of $6,200.
Bottema had access to the card through his employment at BYU-Idaho, according to Rexburg Police Department Capt. Randy Lewis. On his Facebook page, Bottema lists his job as an “accounts payable specialist.”
Lewis says university officials notified police on Jan. 5 concerning the unusual withdrawals on the card.
Bottema was arrested Thursday, Jan. 14, on a charge of fraudulent use of a financial transaction card.
Lewis said Bottema admitted to using the cards for personal use.
A spokesman for BYU-Idaho said as of Friday, Jan. 15, Bottema is no longer an employee of BYU-Idaho.
Bottema was booked in the Madison County Jail and police say further charges could be filed.