Former school secretary gets jail, probation for theft

WARREN — Marcia P. Cohen, the 55-year-old Youngstown woman convicted of taking $4,888 from prom tickets and other items she collected as a secretary for Liberty High School, will spend five days in Trumbull County Jail and spend five years on probation.

Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court handed down the sentence Monday. Part of her sentencing order was that she repay the money, but she has already done that, court officials said.

Cohen, of Selma Avenue took the money from prom tickets, a Pennies for Patients fundraiser and transcript fees, according to Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor.

Cohen was placed on administrative leave April 19 and she resigned from the district after that, said Mark Lucas, Liberty superintendent. Lucas said an accounting change was made to prevent such a theft from recurring.

Cohen pleaded guilty to one felony count of theft in office in September. She could have gotten as much as 18 months in prison.