Former Liberty woman admits embezzlement

WARREN — A former Liberty woman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $100,000 from her former employer between January 1995 and and 2002.

Cheryl Russell, 61, of Hilliard, Ohio, entered the plea Friday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court and will be sentenced after the county Adult Probation Department conducts a presentence investigation. Her case was set for trial Monday.

Russell took money by a couple of different methods from Classic Optical Labs Inc., 3710 Belmont Ave., an eyeglass wholesaler, while she was the director of accounting, controller and director of human resources, said Ken Bailey, assistant county prosecutor.

She could receive probation or a jail sentence of up to a year. She will be ordered to pay restitution to the company for the amount of the deductible paid to Traveler’s Insurance Company, which reimbursed the company the theft amount, Bailey said.