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Article published July 2, 2009
Former Muddy Creek secretary accused of forgery, fraud
MUDDY CREEK TWP — "It's upsetting," said Dale Kerr, chairman of the township's supervisors, this morning about allegations that a former township secretary stole more than $100,000 from township coffers. State troopers Thursday arrested Dixie Lynn Christy, 39, of Cherry Township in the alleged theft between 2005 and 2008. District Judge Peter Shaffer arraigned Christy on 103 counts each of forgery and access device fraud. She also is charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving stolen property. She was sent to the Butler County Prison following arraignment on the 209 felony counts and released after posting $15,000 bail. In a news release, police said Christy allegedly took $108,848.70 from the township from March 17, 2005, to Oct. 15, before giving up the secretary's post late last year. Kerr said he was previously aware of the state police investigation, which followed the township's own probe two months ago. Kerr declined further comment about the case. Former Muddy Creek Township Supervisor Annette Sudano, who served in 2005 and 2006, rallied to Christy's defense. "It's probably just a miscalculation," Sudano said of the charges. "She was dependable and always honest. Everything in the books, as far as revenues and expenditures, were always down to the penny." A preliminary hearing for Christy is set 10:30 a.m. Tuesday before Senior District Judge Frank Abate Jr. in Slippery Rock.
