Former Franklin school secretary indicted, accused of theft in office

A former Franklin school secretary has been indicted, accused of taking more than $7,500 in school fees through deception and falsifying school records to cover up the alleged thefts for nearly a five year period.

A Warren County grand jury indicted Lanisa Ann Smith, 50, of Franklin, on charges of theft in office and tampering with records, both third-degree felony charges. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned July 16 in Warren County Common Pleas Court.

Franklin City School District officials reported a theft on June 10, 2019, according to an incident report filed that day with the Franklin Police Division.

Police were initially were investigating a misdemeanor larceny allegation, but no amount was listed on the incident report.

Franklin School Superintendent Michael Sander said the former employee’s resignation was accepted by the Franklin Board of Education at its June 24, 2019, meeting. Smith was a secretary in the high school principal’s office.

Acting Franklin Police Chief Brian Pacifico said the case was turned over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, which conducted the investigation with its forensic accounting unit. BCI found more discrepancies, which lengthened its investigation. Investigators said the thefts occurred from 2014 to 2019.

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