Finding for Recovery of $13,748 Issued Against Former Wapakoneta Clerk, Convicted in Theft of Utility Payments

Thursday, March 28, 2024

COLUMBUS - A finding for recovery of $13,748 was issued Thursday against a former clerk for the City of Wapakoneta, who was convicted in the theft of utility payments that resulted in court-ordered restitution of more than $250,000, Auditor of State Keith Faber announced.

The finding against Christine Ann Steinke was one of four findings for recovery included in an audit of the city's finances for calendar year 2022.

Copies of the full report are available online at Search Audits (ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/search.aspx).

Steinke, who was responsible for collecting utility payments, improperly adjusted customer accounts to indicate overpayments were made, and then took corresponding amounts from the city's cash drawer.

She was indicted in December 2022 in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court and pleaded guilty in March 2023 to two felony counts of tampering with records, a felony count of theft in office, and three felony counts of tampering with records.

Steinke was sentenced to 6-9 years in prison and is currently incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. Additionally, she was ordered to pay restitution of $251,635, of which $237,887 was paid from her Ohio Public Employees Retirement System account.

Steinke and her bonding company are jointly and severally liable for the remaining $13,748.

Three other findings for recovery included in Wapakoneta's latest audit, totaling $17,259, have been rectified, all involving overpayments for accrued sick leave when employees retired.

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The Auditor of State's Office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,900 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government.

Public Affairs
Contact: Marc Kovac
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