Ex-Horse Fair Director Arraigned On Felony Fraud Charges

(Columbia County) The former executive director of the Midwest Horse Fair accused of embezzling almost 240-thousand dollars was arraigned Thursday. 51-year-old Rhonda Reese of Columbus stood mute and the court entered a not guilty plea on her behalf to 41 counts of Fraudulent Writings by a Corporation Officer and 20 counts of Theft. Investigators say she used the money to pay college tuition and make personal purchases. Reese was fired in July of last year and she was arrested during a traffic stop in Columbus. She was head of the horse fair from 2007 to 2017. A jury trial will be scheduled at a later date.