(This story was updated to add new information.)
CARROLLTON ‒ The treasurer of the Carrollton Exempted Village Schools, who has been on paid leave since March 31, has been indicted on charges of theft in office and tampering with records over college tuition reimbursements.
Amy J. Spears, 50, is accused of taking $27,620 from the district, according to an indictment filed Wednesday in Carroll County Common Pleas Court. Both charges are third-degree felonies. The indictment alleges the crimes occurred between Sept. 30, 2022, and Oct. 1, 2024.
The Carrollton resident has been ordered to appear in court for arraignment on May 22.
The school board granted her request to be placed on leave at a special meeting on April 1, when it also appointed Jon Pusateri of the Stark County Educational Service Center as interim treasurer.
The treasurer’s salary is $98,346.
Efforts to reach Spears on Thursday were unsuccessful. The Repository left voicemail with her husband and sent email messages. No phone number was listed for Spears.
Carrollton Exempted Village Schools treasurer charged
The indictment for records tampering accuses Spears of creating fraudulent Ashland University student account statements and reimbursement documents.
Superintendent David L. Davis said the district does not have a business relationship with Ashland University.
At this time, the school board said it will make no further comment as this case and investigation is ongoing.
Carroll County Prosecutor Steven D. Barnett elaborated in a news release issued Friday.
Spears wrote checks to herself for $27,620, including several for tuition reimbursements authorized through her contract with the school district for university work.
“Spears neither attended nor completed that course work and submitted false university documents to justify the reimbursements,” Barnett wrote.
“Spears also allegedly wrote a $5,000 check to herself, claiming the payment was a test of a check payment program.”
Barnett said state auditors are leading the case. Although there is no conflict of interest that would require his office to recuse itself, it is best to let state attorneys who specialize in such investigations see if through, Barnett wrote.
Audit of the books
A spokesman for Ohio Auditor Keith Faber said that no special or forensic audit is available regarding Spears.
“I can only acknowledge that our Special Investigations Unit has an open investigation into this matter,” Marc Kovac said. “We have no further comment at this time.”
An attorney with the unit will serve as co-counsel with Barnett in prosecuting the case.
A message from the school board posted on the district’s website Thursday said the district has been cooperating with the state auditor’s office throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate with them and the Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office to seek restitution of any district funds that have been lost.
“Furthermore, we are reviewing all of our procedures regarding reimbursement to prevent future occurrences of this nature,” the board’s announcement said.
This is the second theft-in-office case to be prosecuted since 2022 in the school district. A former superintendent, two former board members and a Canton man were previously sentenced for participating in a scheme that involved creating shell companies to sell air purifiers at marked-up prices to the school district.
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Carrollton Exempted Village Schools treasurer facing theft-in-office and tampering charges
Reporting by Nancy Molnar, Canton Repository / The Repository
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