Ex-Liberty secretary pleads guilty to theft

STAFF report

WARREN — A Youngstown woman has pleaded guilty to one count of theft in office for taking $4,888 from three accounts at Liberty High School while she worked there as a secretary.

Marcia P. Cohen, 55, of Selma Avenue, could be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine when Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court sentences her in about six weeks.

Cohen entered a plea of guilty to the charge when she appeared before Judge Kontos on Monday.

Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor said Cohen collected the money for prom tickets, the Pennies for Patients fundraiser and transcript fees without depositing them.

Mark Lucas, Liberty superintendent, said Cohen was placed on administrative leave April 19 and that she has since left district employment.

Lucas said changes have been made in the accountability of funds so that such a loss doesn’t occur again.