MEXICO — A former selectman who served as treasurer of the Mexico Trailblazers Snowmobile Club is scheduled to appear in court next week on a charge he stole $17,000 from the club, officials said.

Jim McDonald, 53, of Mexico, was arrested Aug. 13 on a charge of Class B theft, police Chief Roy Hodsdon said. A conviction is punishable by up 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.

McDonald is scheduled to appear in Oxford County Superior Court in Paris at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, according to officials.

He had served as club treasurer since June 2012.

Hodsdon said the initial complaint was made at the end of May after the club learned from its bank that there was something wrong with its account. He said the club took its books and other material to an accountant. It learned $17,000 was missing from its account.

Hodsdon said he interviewed McDonald, who admitted writing checks to himself and cashing them at convenience stores. McDonald said he took just under $10,000, the chief said.

Hodsdon said he met with McDonald a second time on Aug. 13 and arrested him on the theft charge. McDonald posted bail and was released.

“This is a real small club. It was a trust thing and he was trusted to do the right thing,” Hodsdon said.

“This has taken a lot of hours of investigative time. It’s a big case,” he said.