A senior leader at Arizona State University’s ASU Preparatory Academy is facing a grand theft charge in Florida after police say she tried to leave a Target with nearly $970 in unpaid merchandise.
Amy McGrath, listed as a top administrator in the ASU Prep charter network, was arrested April 4 in Orlando. An arrest report shows she was booked on a grand theft charge and that her bond was set at $2,500, a case that has quickly grabbed attention back in Arizona because of her leadership role.
Arrest details
An arrest report reviewed by Arizona's Family states that surveillance video showed McGrath pushing a shopping cart while holding her phone as she left the Target. According to the document, she passed through the store’s anti-theft detector and told officials she intended to pay but needed to call her sister because she did not have reception inside the store.
The report places the total value of the items in the cart at just under $970 and notes that the arrest occurred in Orlando on April 4.
ASU position
Arizona State University’s directory lists McGrath as the managing director of ASU Preparatory Academy, a senior role that oversees the charter-school network’s programs and partnerships. Her university profile describes her as working on program design and scaling initiatives across ASU Prep sites.
University response
ASU Prep declined to go into specifics about the case. The school told Arizona's Family that it generally does not comment on legal matters involving personnel and said it expects the situation to be resolved soon. The school did not disclose whether any internal actions were taken following McGrath’s arrest.
What Florida law says
Under Florida law, theft of property valued at $750 or more is categorized as grand theft in the third degree, according to Florida Statutes. A third-degree felony in Florida is punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000, as outlined in Florida's penalties.
What comes next
McGrath was booked and released on the $2,500 bond noted in the arrest report. Whether prosecutors move forward with formal charges will be reflected in local court records. For now, ASU’s public stance is limited to the brief statement provided to the station, with no additional comment on McGrath’s status at the school.
