Woman indicted in Rutgers theft

Ms. Buckner could face over 50 years in prison

By: Joseph Harvie
   A state grand jury empanelled in New Brunswick indicted a 43-year-old Monmouth Junction woman Dec. 20 on charges that she stole money from the personal account of Rutgers women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer, Brian Gillet, Middlesex County assistant prosecutor, said Wednesday.
   Dawn Buckner was indicted on two counts of official misconduct, two counts of theft by deception, two counts of forgery and two counts of uttering a forged document, Mr. Gillet said.
   He said she is free while awaiting arraignment in state Superior Court in Middlesex County where her bail, if any, will be set. The arraignment should happen in mid-January, Mr. Gillet said.
   Ms. Buckner stole $75,000 from Ms. Stringer by forging and cashing checks and using an automated cash machine to get money from Ms. Stringer’s personal account, Mr. Gillet said.
   In addition, Ms. Buckner used a university-issued credit card to make personal purchases and never made payments on the card, Mr. Gillet said.
   The incidents occurred between Oct. 1, 2002 and June 30, 2005, Mr. Gillet said.
   Ms. Buckner was charged with official misconduct because she was employed by Rutgers as Ms. Stringer’s assistant and as the director of women’s basketball, and she used her position to take the money from Ms. Stringer, Mr. Gillet said.
   Mr. Gillet said that Ms. Buckner signed Ms. Stringer’s name on a check and cashed it.
   If she is convicted on all charges, she could face up to 53 years in prison, Mr. Gillet said.