EPHRATA - A Quincy business' former bookkeeper is accused of stealing at least $40,000 from her employer.

Prosecutors charged Tracy A. Young, 29, of Wenatchee, with first-degree theft in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records.

Young worked for Milbrandt Management for about a year before the alleged theft was discovered, according to a Quincy police report. The owners, Jerry C. Milbrandt and Janie Milbrandt, allegedly discovered the theft when another employee examined financial records during an absence from Young.

They reportedly discovered $57,240 was missing between two accounts Young handled, according to the police report. A small portion of the money was paid to Young for travel from Wenatchee. The owners allegedly gave police checks Young wrote to herself.

When the managers confronted her, Young allegedly admitted to writing the checks and taking deposits meant for Ryan Patrick Winery, according to court records. She reported using the money to purchase a $6,000 laptop computer and pay medical bills. Young reportedly gave them a cellphone with pictures of the laptop computer and a large amount of money fanned out on a table.

Young reportedly changed the records to hide the checks she was writing, according to the police report.

When police questioned Young, she reportedly admitted to the theft, adding most of the money went to her boyfriend who was involved with drugs, according to the police report. She allegedly said some of the money was paid to her for travel, but the amount she stole was in the range of $40,000 to $50,000.