MUDDY CREEK TWP — A former township secretary is accused of stealing more than $100,000 from township coffers, state police said.

Troopers on Thursday arrested Dixie Lynn Christy, 39, of Cherry Township in the alleged thefts that occurred from 2005 to 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 about three hours later after posting $15,000 bail.

Christy has an unlisted telephone number and could not be reached for comment this morning. It was not known if she has an attorney.

A copy of the criminal complaint against her was unavailable this morning, and the investigating officer could not be reached for comment.

In a brief news release, police said Christy allegedly took $108,848.70 from the township from March 17, 2005, to Oct. 15, 2008, before giving up the secretary's post late last year.

"It's upsetting, said Dale Kerr, chairman of the Muddy Creek Township supervisors, after learning of the allegations.

He 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.

A telephone message for Tom Smith, Muddy Creek's solicitor, was not immediately returned.

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.

"I can't say anything bad about her."

A preliminary hearing for Christy is set 10:30 a.m. Tuesday before Senior District Judge Frank Abate Jr. in Slippery Rock.

The case is the second time in consecutive years that a township official has been accused of stealing public funds.

State police last year charged former earned income tax collector Shirl Mawhinney with writing a check for $2,898 on Muddy Creek's account to herself in 2006, according to court documents.

She allegedly deposited the check into her husband's account.

Mawhinney is awaiting trial on charges of theft and receiving stolen property in the case.