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A woman who kept the financial books at a Tucson firm that assists the disabled siphoned off more than $200,000, prosecutors charged.

Authorities arrested Cheryl W. Crabtree, 62, of Phoenix Tuesday. An indictment announced Wednesday by Attorney General Terry Goddard's office alleges that Crabtree embezzled the money over 13 years, ending in 2005.

She was a bookkeeper and then chief financial officer for Tucson-based Dorothy Kret & Associates. The company contracts with federal, state and local governments to provide services to people with physical or mental disabilities in Tucson and Phoenix.

Crabtree had been a "trusted, valuable employee," said Dot Kret, the company president.

"When I found out about this in December 2005 I was devastated personally," Kret said.

The theft did not affect services to disabled clients, who number about 400, she said.

Kret would not say how the theft was discovered but said she immediately fired Crabtree and reported the theft to authorities.

An investigation by the attorney general's Special Investigation Section led to an indictment on one count of fraud involving more than $100,000 and one count of theft over $100,000.

Authorities allege she embezzled the money between January 1992 and December 2005.

Crabtree was in the Pima County jail Wednesday in lieu of a $300,000 bond.

She is to appear Tuesday before Judge Hector Campoy of Pima County Superior Court.