A Huntingtown woman is facing prison time after a Charles County jury decided she stole money from a local nonprofit, bringing a long-simmering case to a decisive close in La Plata. Jurors on March 24 found 43-year-old Nichole Renee Keihn guilty in Charles County Circuit Court after a two-day trial. The verdict capped months of pretrial wrangling that included a missed court date, a bench warrant, and a later bail review, as per The BayNet.
Verdict and what happens next
As reported by The BayNet, Keihn was convicted of theft of property or services valued between $1,500 and $25,000 after the jury returned its verdict before Judge Monise A. Stephenson. The case was brought by the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office, and court records indicate the conviction reflects a lower theft amount than what had been alleged earlier in the case.
Keihn is scheduled to return to Charles County Circuit Court for sentencing on May 28, 2026.
How the case unfolded and the nonprofit at the center
The conviction stems from a series of incidents that occurred between August 2022 and June 2024, according to court records cited by The BayNet. Prosecutors tied the theft to Keihn’s role with the Promise Resource Center, a Hughesville-based child-care and family-support nonprofit.
Public filings show the Promise Resource Center reported roughly $742,922 in revenue for 2023. According to CauseIQ, the organization files Form 990s and lists a Hughesville address in Charles County.
Possible sentence and Maryland penalties
Under Maryland law, theft of property or services valued at least $1,500 but less than $25,000 is a felony that can carry up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, and an obligation to restore the property or pay its value. Those penalties and restitution rules are set by state law, and the judge will weigh them when Keihn appears for sentencing.
The Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office, which handled the prosecution, is expected to make its recommendation at the May hearing.
Why this hits small nonprofits so hard
Internal theft can be especially painful for smaller nonprofits that run on lean budgets and high levels of trust. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ Occupational Fraud 2024 report notes that fraud committed by insiders often inflicts significant financial damage and that tips from staff or volunteers are the most common way schemes are uncovered. ACFE findings highlight why boards and treasurers frequently stress internal controls and steady oversight.
Court records show Keihn previously missed a September 2025 hearing, which led to a bench warrant, her being taken into custody, and a later release after a bail review. The Promise Resource Center and local officials have not issued extended public statements about the case, and attention is now turning to the May 28 sentencing for any restitution orders and the final terms of Keihn’s punishment.
