JEFFERSON TWP — A former longtime South Butler School District secretary is accused of stealing more than $13,000 from the district's student activities account last year.

Paula Ann Vaughan, 59, of Clinton Township admitted taking the money, state police said, between June 6 and Dec. 31, 2016. She worked as secretary for the district's athletic director at the time.

District Judge Sue Haggerty on Friday arraigned Vaughan on felony charges of theft and receiving stolen properly. She is free on $20,000 unsecured bail.

David Zupsic, then superintendent, and Paul Slomer Jr., director of business affairs, on March 3 reported the suspected theft to police.

The officials told police that while investigating discrepancies in the student activities account, according to court documents, Vaughan admitted taking money.

“She was required to collect money, currency and checks, from various fundraisers, dances and clubs,” Trooper Michael Pickard said Monday, “and take it to the business office for deposit.”

But while she deposited the checks, Vaughn allegedly pocketed the cash.

Later in March, the district hired the Butler accounting firm of Maher Duessel to help in the internal investigation and to conduct an audit.

District solicitor Tom Breth said Monday that Vaughn immediately resigned when the investigation started. She was hired in 1991 and since then had worked in different positions at the district, including as a Knoch High School secretary.

During a March 30 meeting, a police affidavit said, Vaughan, accompanied by her attorney, Kenneth Harris, met with Slomer and a representative of the accounting firm to detail “how she was taking monies for her own benefit.”

The audit eventually found she had taken $13,673.95, documents said.

Police on Oct. 26 interviewed Vaughan at the barracks in Butler Township. Again, her attorney was at her side. Pickard said she gave a “full confession” to taking the money.

She acknowledged that she had taken cash from the student activities fund. In an attempt to cover up the crime, police said, she replaced the missing money with funds from pay-to-participate, driver's education and summer recreation fees.

She also admitted to writing herself an $850 check for cash on a Knoch High School account, which she endorsed and cashed at a bank.

“Vaughan stated she made the deposits through various local branches,” according to the affidavit, “to avoid detection.”

Pickard said she would not disclose how she spent the money. He also said she “did not necessarily appear remorseful” during the interview.

Frank Prazenica, acting superintendent, declined to comment about the allegations, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.

Instead, the district issued a prepared statement about its investigation.

“Throughout this process, the District has worked closely with the State Police, its insurance carrier and its auditor, Maher Duessel, to assure that all misappropriated funds are recovered by the District and that the employee-in-question is held to account for their conduct,” the statement said.

Vaughan's attorney was unavailable for comment Monday.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Dec. 13 at Haggerty's office in Saxonburg.