Former political official charged with embezzling

COLUMBUS (AP) -- A former political campaign treasurer charged with embezzling more than $220,000 from eight candidates and a political action committee surrendered to authorities Thursday and posted bond.
A Franklin County grand jury returned an indictment earlier this month charging Susan Kyte, 47, of Columbus, with 19 counts including money laundering, tampering with records, election falsification and grand theft.
Kyte had been sought on an interstate warrant. She was escorted to the courthouse Thursday by attorney S. Michael Miller. Kyte signed a $50,000 recognizance that permits her to stay out of jail without paying any money.
Prosecutors say Kyte wrote 119 checks to herself from the accounts between Dec. 22, 1998, and Feb. 2, 2004.
Of the $220,000 she allegedly embezzled, about $66,000 came from the campaign of state Sen. Robert Gardner of Madison, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien has said.
Prosecutors said Kyte stole almost $47,000 from state Rep. Linda Reidelbach of Columbus and $38,900 from former state Rep. Amy Salerno of Columbus, who is running for clerk of courts in Franklin County.
Kyte also embezzled $4,425 from the Ohio Republican Women's Campaign Fund, prosecutors alleged.
The indictment also charged Kyte with failure to file and filing false state income tax returns for 1999-2003.