A University High School teacher and former Cub Scout treasurer was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing $9,500 from Cub Scout funds, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Eloisa Hilton, 37, was arrested at her Deltona home and taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail after a tip from a caller.
Hilton is suspected of taking funds from the Cub Scouts Deltona Pack to pay for several electric bills, gasoline and even groceries, according to a police report. Some of that money was allegedly used to pay several hotel stays in Tampa.
Hilton became the pack's treasurer in April 2014. Investigators said she had the only debit card for the pack.
After further review, officials found another $1,000 in funds raised by selling popcorn and discount cards was never deposited to the bank. More missing cash was also discovered during the investigation.
Hilton confessed to taking nearly $10,000 from the pack, according to the police report. She vowed to pay the money back after being caught. Hilton also told investigators that she was having financial problems.
The average age of a Cub Scout is between 7 and 10 years old. The cub scout's motto is to help other people and obey the law of the pack. Officials said that's something Hilton failed to do.
Pack 340 is well known to the West Volusia Audubon Society because those Cub Scouts actually adopted the Audubon park in Deltona to help keep it clean.
Audubon Society member Harry Robinson is used to seeing the cub scout pack clean up the park. He learned Wednesday of the alleged theft to the kids of Pack 340.
"It's just sad for these little kids," Robinson said.
Hilton is also a teacher at University High School. A spokesperson for the school district, Nancy Wait told News 13 Hilton was removed from her classroom pending the investigation.
Hilton was charged with two counts of grand theft, and one count of illegal use of credit cards. She is free on a $2,500 bond.