Ex-tax office cashier sentenced

Thursday, August 24, 2006 WARREN — A former cashier in the city's income tax collection office has been sentenced to probation for stealing $75.86 from the office. Melody Byard, 33, of Page Avenue Northeast, was convicted on one felony charge of theft in office and three misdemeanors of tampering with records. On Wednesday, Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court sentenced her to 11 months in prison on the theft and six months on the tampering with records, all suspended — meaning she will not serve any jail time as long as she meets the requirements of her probation. Those requirements include paying $75.86 restitution to the income tax collection office, submitting to DNA testing and paying court costs. Diane Barber, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, said an investigation began when a city taxpayer notified the department that a cash payment she had made to her account was not credited to the account. Byard was fired from her job June 13.