Amy Spears granted judicial release, placed on community control

Former Carrollton Exempted Village School District treasurer Amy Spears will be home for the holidays after Carroll County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael V. Repella II granted her motion for judicial release during a Dec. 17 hearing.

Spears appeared emotional as Repella converted her 18-month prison sentence for theft in office into a three-year community control sanction, ordering her immediate release under probation supervision.

“I sent you to prison when that wasn’t what the state recommended, and I did that because we needed to send a message, not just for you, but for other people in the community, that it’s not acceptable to do what you did,” Repella said. “I reviewed your institutional record, and you did exactly what I told you to do. You stayed out of trouble, and you took advantage of the programs available to you.”

Repella ordered Spears to serve three years on community control with conditions including adult probation supervision, maintaining current contact information, complying with all directives and avoiding further criminal conduct.

“I would like to say I am extremely sorry to the community for my actions and to my family,” Spears said when she was given a chance to speak. “I am looking forward to starting over. This has definitely been an eye-opening experience.”

“Legally, she is eligible for this judicial release after 30 days, and it has been more than double that,” said Spears’ attorney Daniel Misiewicz. “We would ask the court to consider her lack of previous record, genuine remorse and the impact that going to prison has had on her. While she’s been incarcerated, Your Honor, she completed multiple programs and tried to make the best of the situation, focusing on herself, humbling herself, staying safe and making improvements.”

Case background ahead of hearing

Spears was serving an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty to theft in office, a third-degree felony. She was sentenced Oct. 7 by Repella and later transported to the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. In addition to prison time, Spears was ordered to pay $22,620 in restitution to the school district, along with court costs.

The conviction stemmed from a May 7, 2025, indictment issued by the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office charging Spears with theft in office and tampering with records. The tampering charge was dismissed when Spears entered a guilty plea to theft in office at a Sept. 12 pretrial hearing.

Following sentencing, the court approved a motion allowing the Ohio School Employees Retirement System to withhold funds from Spears’ account to satisfy the restitution order, resulting in the forfeiture of her future retirement benefits aside from her accumulated contributions.

Nov. 21, Spears filed a motion under Ohio law requesting reconsideration of her sentence and judicial release, leading to the Dec. 17 hearing.

“I really hope this is it for you,” Repella said. “I hope I don’t see you back in here.”