Former Carrollton Schools treasurer begins 18-month prison term

Amy Spears, former treasurer for Carrollton Schools, was transported earlier this week to the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville to begin serving an 18-month prison sentence following her conviction for theft in office, a third-degree felony.

In addition to the prison term, Spears was ordered to pay $22,620 in restitution and court costs. The sentence was handed down by Carroll County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael V. Repella II at an Oct. 7 hearing.

A journal entry filed Oct. 9 shows Repella approved a motion from the State of Ohio directing the Ohio School Employees Retirement System to withhold funds from Spears’ account to cover restitution owed to the Carrollton Exempted Village School District.

As part of the order, Spears forfeited her right to any retirement allowance, pension, disability benefit or other payments from the School Employees Retirement System, except for her accumulated contributions. The Clerk of Courts was ordered to distribute the restitution funds of $22,620 to the Carrollton EVSD treasurer.

The case was prosecuted by attorneys from the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office. Spears was indicted May 7, 2025, on charges of theft in office and tampering with records, both third-degree felonies. The tampering charge was dismissed when she entered a guilty plea to theft in office at a Sept. 12 pretrial hearing.

Carroll County Prosecutor Steven D. Barnett, who assisted in the case, said the court’s ruling achieved the goals of protecting public funds, deterring future misconduct and ensuring restitution to the school district.

“We respect the court’s sentence and the balance of the sentencing factors that the trial court had to consider,” Barnett said. “The court’s sentence accomplishes the three important factors in these types of cases that the State of Ohio outlined in court: protection of public funds, deterrence to others and restitution to the public entity. I have very much appreciated the assistance of Auditor of State Faber’s staff and the resources of his office in assisting the State of Ohio in this case.”