Written from court documents and online information available from IU

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — August 18, 2026

An Indiana University administrator and longtime Monroe County 4-H volunteer is accused of using a club-issued credit card for more than $11,000 in unauthorized personal purchases and cash withdrawals, according to a probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday.

Penny R. Hudoff, 51, faces charges of Level 6 felony theft and Level 6 felony fraud in Monroe Circuit Court. The alleged transactions occurred between 2020 and 2026.

Hudoff’s alleged conduct was connected to her volunteer work with 4-H, not her employment at Indiana University. However, an IU directory identifies Hudoff as assistant director of curriculum and scheduling at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, a management position at the university. Her LinkedIn profile lists her as a Monroe County 4-H Junior Leader adviser and club leader since 2010.

A Purdue Extension Monroe County 4-H educator contacted the Bloomington Police Department on July 28 to report suspected theft and credit card fraud, according to the affidavit.

Transaction and bank records indicated Hudoff had been issued a credit card for the club. An examination of those records identified at least $11,418.79 in allegedly unauthorized personal purchases and ATM withdrawals, police said.

Another $7,817.89 in transactions was considered suspicious and believed to be unauthorized, but the 4-H educator could not conclusively determine whether the charges were personal, according to the affidavit.

A Bloomington police detective interviewed Hudoff at her Monroe County home Aug. 3. Hudoff allegedly said some online purchases were accidental because shopping applications sometimes defaulted to the 4-H card rather than one of her personal payment methods.

Hudoff acknowledged that she did not attempt to correct the charges after discovering the mistakes, according to the affidavit.

Police said Hudoff also admitted using the card to make more than $1,100 in Christmas purchases on Dec. 23, 2024, because she did not have the money to pay for them herself.

Hudoff allegedly admitted that all ATM withdrawals made with the card were for personal expenses. Those withdrawals totaled $3,940, according to court records.

The affidavit states Hudoff repeatedly offered to repay the club between $30,000 and $40,000 and said she never intended to hurt the children participating in 4-H.

A detective requested that Hudoff be summoned to court on the felony charges. The case was filed Tuesday.

A probable cause affidavit contains allegations made by investigators. Hudoff is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.