Former Carrollton school treasurer pleads guilty to theft in office

The former treasurer of Carrollton Exempted Village Schools pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony count of theft in office after investigators said she stole district funds and fabricated records to cover it up.

Amy Spears entered the plea in Carroll County Common Pleas Court. She is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 7 and is immediately barred from public employment.

The Ohio Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit opened the case after anonymous complaints alleged Spears cashed a $5,000 district check she made out to herself. After being confronted, she redeposited the full amount into the district’s account, investigators said.

The probe also found Spears obtained about $22,000 in tuition reimbursements for college classes during periods when she was not enrolled, using fraudulent documents to support the payments, according to the SIU.

Spears was indicted in May 2025. An attorney from the SIU was appointed by the Carroll County prosecutor to serve as co-counsel in the case.