Canfield bus driver accused of gas theft

Staff report

CANFIELD

A bus driver at Canfield High School entered a not-guilty plea to a charge of stealing gasoline from the school bus garage.

The school district has placed Launa Lynn, 53, of Canfield on administrative leave pending further investigation.

She appeared Friday in Mahoning County Area Court on a charge of misdemeanor theft.

Richard Hammond, director of transportation for Canfield schools, told police he noticed an increase in the amount of gasoline being used at the bus garage’s fueling station.

The majority of the fleet uses diesel fuel.

Hammond installed a surveillance camera and saw a woman he believed to be Lynn taking gas on four occasions.

Police staked out the bus garage Tuesday evening and reportedly saw Lynn drive to the gas pump and begin fueling her personal vehicle after bringing the lacrosse team back to the school.

Lynn told police she was a bus driver and was just putting a little bit of fuel in her vehicle. She said she intended to pay Hammond in the morning.

After being placed under arrest, Lynn told police she had fueled personal vehicles on five occasions. She said she and her husband have been facing financial hardships.

Police then served her with a summons for the theft charge.