News
Former Trimble Cheerleading Coach Charged With Theft
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
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A former coach for Trimble Local Schools is being charged with stealing from the youth cheerleading group she used to head.
Christa Shutts is charged in Athens County Common Pleas Court with one count of felony theft, according to a bill of information filed on May 28. A bill of information is a court document charging an individual without the case being presented to a grand jury.
Shutts is charged with the alleged theft of "financial account funds" from the Wee Cats cheerleading team, valued at $1,000 or more, but less than $7,500. The act allegedly occurred on or about Feb. 14 of this year.
Shutts officially resigned from her position as cheerleading coach for Trimble Local on March 18, having submitted her resignation to the Trimble Local School Board and Supt. Kim Jones on Feb. 14. It is unknown if the allegation of theft or an investigation into the alleged theft was a factor in Shutts' resignation.
"She didn't state her intentions for leaving," Jones said. "Obviously, I'm saddened by the course of events."
The Wee Cats are a cheerleading group made up of children in kindergarten through middle school. The group qualified for a national competition after scoring well at a regional competition in Chardon in March.
The youth group is not affiliated with Trimble Local Schools, according to Jones.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn declined to comment on the case until after the case has been presented at a hearing, scheduled for July 1.