Published June 27, 2007 07:23 am - JEFFERSON - -Former Andover Public Library board fiscal officer Sonja Orahood was indicted Friday by a county grand jury for theft charges involving the embezzlement of m ...
Ex-Andover library official indicted Andover board rejects negotiated plea as former treasurer booked
DORIS COOK Star Beacon
JEFFERSON - -Former Andover Public Library board fiscal officer Sonja Orahood was indicted Friday by a county grand jury for theft charges involving the embezzlement of more than $89,000 mid-2000 to Dec. 31, 2005.
Orahood, 37, of 231 Main St., Andover, is also charged with two other theft felonies, as a former treasurer of the Pymatuning Valley Parents/Teachers Organization and the Andover United Methodist Church. She is accused of stealing $6,082 from the PTO from Jan. 1, 2003 to Dec. 31, 2005, and $5,230.54 from the church between Aug. 1, 2003 to June 30, 2005.
The investigation into the missing funds from the Andover library began in July 2005 with a massive audit undertaken by then State Auditor Betty Montgomery's regional office in Youngstown. Orahood, the daughter-in-law of the long-time library director Mary Jo Orahood, was placed on administrative leave pending the audit probe outcome. She was later fired.
The missing funds were discovered during a routine audit of library funds by the state auditor's office. Initial investigation was done by Andover Police Department, then turned over to County Prosecutor Thomas Sartini's office.
In January, the state auditor's office released it's findings making recommendations for recovery of funds from Orahood and the library's bonding agent, Ohio Casualty Co. Orahood forged checks to pay on her own credit card debts plus other personal purchases.
Sartini in March was apparently negotiating a plea offer with Orahood, but library board trustees rejected the offer. Instead it sought criminal prosecution of the former treasurer.
Trustees told Sartini they are seeking full restitution of the missing funds plus $20,000 billed to the library for the special audit handled by the state auditor's office.
Orahood will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Friday before Common Pleas Court Judge Gary Yost.
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