Accused Centralia embezzler appears in Lewis County Superior Court

Anne Marie Baker, the 57-year-old Centralia woman accused of embezzling $1.4 million from a former employer over a seven-year period, appeared in Lewis County Superior Court Thursday afternoon, Aug 14, for arraignment.

Judge Joely A. Yeager presided over the matter.

Standing alone at the defendant’s counsel table, with around 10 family members and friends supporting her in the back of the courtroom, Baker announced she had retained legal services, and that she has an appointment to meet her attorney on Monday, Aug. 18.

A future trial setting was scheduled for Aug. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

Baker is out of custody after posting a $100,000 bail. She was first arrested Aug. 1. The former accountant and office manager for Schwiesow Construction Inc. allegedly forged 221 checks from Aug. 1, 2019, through Aug. 1, 2025.

Baker was previously Anne Marie Garrett.

Read more on the case here.