Historian Steals $62K From Local Society

Rochester News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 26, 2026 · 1m

A former president of the Clarendon Historical Society, Melissa Ierlan, admitted to stealing over $62,000 from the organization she oversaw from 2020 to 2025—money meant for local artifacts and exhibits. Using the society’s debit card and checkbook for personal expenses, including a shady double-payment on a fiberglass ox statue, she abused her position of trust. Now pleading guilty to grand larceny, she’ll have to repay every cent, with sentencing set for August 26th—a sobering lesson in how even small-town trust can be shattered by greed. Support the show:Get a discount at…