CLINTON TWP — Butler County court records allege that a former Clinton Township secretary wrote herself a $5,824 unauthorized check from the township’s account and used the township’s credit card to make personal purchases from the Home Shopping Network.

When confronted by investigators, Margaret “Maggie” Nelson allegedly said she’d already paid back some of the money and intended to repay it all, according to court records.

Nelson, when reached by telephone, said she had no comment. She is free on a $6,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing on the allegations was scheduled to occur Wednesday in the office of District Judge Sue Haggerty. However, the hearing was continued, and a new date has not yet been set.

Nelson, 51, of 226 Knoch Road is charged with felony counts of access device fraud and two counts of theft.

According to a criminal affidavit filed last week by state police, officials from the township contacted investigators March 7 when it was discovered a check that was noted in the ledger to be paid to Interstate Pipe & Supply eight months earlier actually was paid to Nelson.

Township officials further questioned another $539 in unauthorized purchases from the Home Shopping Network that were made on the municipality’s MasterCard, according to court records.

Court records say Nelson, when interviewed by police March 7, acknowledged using a pre-signed check to deposit money in her own account.

“The defendant claims her intentions were to pay the money back,” the court record states.

Further, Nelson allegedly told the investigators that she initially made a single purchase from the Home Shopping Network for the township using the credit card. Later, she did not realize her personal purchases also were being debited from the township’s account.

“The defendant claims she paid the township back,” the court record states.

Nelson, a township employee for more than a decade, had been the full- time secretary for eight years. On March 15 the township supervisors fired Nelson.

Previously, township solicitor Mike Gallagher said officials would do a forensic audit of the books through 2014.

Trooper Jason Frances, who filed the charges, said the investigation is considered ongoing until that audit is complete.