Friday, February 13, 2026 |
Photo – Knotwell (center) poses with 2022 Steinly Cup winners – Bigfoot99 file photo
The former CEO of the Saratoga Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce has been arrested for theft.
Carbon County Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Chavez Harkins has charged former Saratoga Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Amanda Knotwell with theft.
According to Saratoga Police Chief John Moore’s written affidavit, he received a call from Saratoga Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chairwoman Amanda Shahadey asking to speak to him about a serious matter. Shahadey told Chief Moore that interim Chamber of Commerce CEO Stacy Crimmins reported that former Chamber CEO Amanda Knotwell confessed to stealing approximately $75,000 from the organization’s accounts. It is unclear exactly when Knotwell was fired from the Chamber of Commerce, but it likely occurred sometime in early January.
Chief Moore met with Shahadey and Crimmins, later that day in the Platte Valley Community Center. Crimmins informed the police chief that Knotwell had “made some suicidal statements” and admitted to taking $75,000 while employed by the Chamber. Crimmins said Knotwell justified the theft by saying that her vehicle was going to be repossessed and that she needed to buy groceries for her children. Knotwell offered to repay the stolen money by working for the Chamber.
Chief Moore reviewed the organization’s finances but didn’t find any obvious discrepancies. Crimmins was prepared to obtain statements from two separate financial institutions, RNB in Saratoga and Mountain Valley Bank in Walden, Colorado. At that time, Chamber Board of Directors Chairwoman Shahadey stated that she was unaware of the Mountain Valley bank account.
The following morning, Crimmins and Shahadey discovered Mountain Valley Bank checks totaling $5,625 issued to Knotwell. More searching revealed additional checks Knotwell has written to herself totaling $77,140.
On the morning of February 3rd, Chief Moore interviewed Knotwell at the Saratoga Police Station. The former Chamber CEO said a guilty conscience prompted her confession to Crimmins. Knotwell calculated her total embezzlement at $77,115, only 25 dollars less than the actual amount.
Knotwell said she would steal money by transferring Chamber funds from one Mountain Valley Bank account into another at the same institution. Afterwards, she would write checks to herself from that second account.
The former Chamber CEO asked to enter into a civil contract with the Chamber of Commerce to repay the stolen money and presented a four-page letter to the Board of Directors. However, the Board did not read the letter at that time.
On February 6th, Carbon County Circuit Judge Susan Stipe issued a warrant for Knotwell’s arrest. Four days later, Knotwell was taken into custody and charged with one count of theft. She was released on $10,000 bond later that day and ordered not to contact anyone from the Chamber of Commerce. The former Chamber CEO is scheduled to appear in circuit court at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon for a preliminary hearing.
