Seaman, Ohio, is reeling after a longtime leader of the North Adams Athletic Boosters was charged with aggravated theft, accused of siphoning off more than $150,000 meant for school sports. Prosecutors say the money trail went cold on roughly $156,000 raised for athletes, uniforms, trips, and gear.
Former boosters president Amie Gardner, who volunteered with the group for 14 years, resigned from the organization last July. She has pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance, with a court order that she stay away from any booster bank accounts while the case moves forward.
Vendor Complaint Kicks Off Quiet Probe
Assistant Adams County Prosecuting Attorney Tyler Cantrell says investigators first started pulling at the thread when a T-shirt vendor came forward. The company reported it had supplied about $30,000 worth of shirts that looked sold but had not been paid for.
"We started checking into that," Cantrell said, describing how county investigators spent six to seven months combing through booster receipts and bank statements. As reported by WKRC, that one unpaid bill opened the door to a broader review that uncovered more fundraising money that did not appear to make it into the books.
What Aggravated Theft Means In Ohio
Under Ohio law, stealing property or services worth $150,000 or more can be charged as aggravated theft, which is a third-degree felony. The law groups theft offenses into degrees based mainly on value and prior convictions, and the potential penalties come from separate sentencing rules.
The statutory definition is laid out in Ohio Revised Code §2913.02, which spells out how theft is classified by dollar amount and other factors.
Allegations, Timeline And What Comes Next
Investigators say roughly $156,000 can be tallied as missing and that the alleged misappropriation stretches from about January 2022 through mid-2025, according to the prosecutor’s office. County auditors went back through numerous fundraisers and found that ticket sales and other fundraising totals that should have shown up as deposits did not appear in the booster accounts, Cantrell told WKRC.
According to Cantrell, investigators also looked at whether any other booster members might be tied to the missing cash. So far, they say Gardner is the only person they have connected to the alleged shortfall. The case is still under review in Adams County court.
Legal Stakes And Next Steps
Because the charge is aggravated theft, a conviction could expose a defendant to the prison terms set for third-degree felonies, along with fines or restitution the court might order. Judges rely on Ohio’s felony sentencing rules to decide how long a prison term should be and what financial penalties apply. Those ranges are outlined in the state’s sentencing provisions, available here.
Local booster clubs and the school community depend heavily on fundraising to cover equipment, travel, and program costs, which makes a six-figure hole especially painful. County officials say the investigation is ongoing as they weigh whether any additional criminal or civil actions are appropriate. Adams County authorities are asking anyone with information to contact investigators. No trial date has been set.
