Former Friends of the Library treasurer arrested on theft charges

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The Kokomo Howard County Public Library (KHCPL) received depressing news late last year as it was discovered that money raised on its behalf by a local nonprofit went missing. That alleged theft came into full view last week as a former member of the nonprofit was arrested.

Jean Ann Landseadel, the former treasurer of the Friends of the Library, a charitable organization whose mission is to raise funds and support for the local library, was arrested on two felony counts of theft on June 16. She posted bond and will have an initial hearing in Howard Circuit Court on July 1.

The Friends of the Library supports KHCPL most visibly through bi-annual book sales in which donated books and assorted media and items from the library’s collection that are no longer needed are made available to the general public.

The sales raise thousands of dollars each year which are used to support KHCPL’s mission of promoting literacy and education in the community. The Friends of the Library also exists to promote the library’s services and needs, often purchasing prizes and items for the library’s annual summer reading program.

The library issued an official statement concerning the alleged theft. It must be noted that the Friends of the Library is a nonprofit that is designed to benefit KHCPL but is not directly affiliated with it.

The current president of the Friends of the Library, Caele Pemberton, also serves as the marketing director of the library, though her involvement with the Friends of the Library is strictly voluntary and not contingent upon her position with the library.

The library’s statement is as follows:

In December 2025, the Friends of the Library, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to support the library, became aware of fraudulent activity within the nonprofit’s accounts. Immediately upon discovering this activity, the nonprofit went to law enforcement to address the situation, and the organization implemented stringent measures to protect its finances and donations.

The nonprofit’s board, made up of volunteers, has continued to work with law enforcement and has prioritized protecting the integrity of the organization and the trust of its members and donors. The Friends of the Library hopes to assure members that current and ongoing donations are secured and being used to help support the organization’s mission.

The Friends of the Library is a 501(c)(3) that operates separately from the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library. This incident has not affected KHCPL or the Library’s finances.