A former South Butler School District secretary was sentenced to probation, after being charged with stealing more than $13,000 from the district's student activities account in 2016.

Paula A. Vaughan, 60, of Sarver, was sentenced to 5 years probation by Butler County President Judge Thomas Doerr. She was ordered to pay court costs and $26,551 in restitution and complete 100 hours of community service.

Doerr said the court would consider early termination of probation if restitution was paid in full.

Assistant District Attorney Terri Schultz, who prosecuted the case, explained that the restitution comprised $13,673 Vaughan was accused of stealing, as well as fees incurred by the school district in investigating the theft.

Vaughan pleaded guilty to felony theft on May 29. She was also initially charged with felony receiving stolen property, which was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Vaughan apologized during the proceeding, saying she was “very sorry for what happened,” and “I was weak during a dark time in my life.”

Members of the school administration were in attendance but did not speak during the proceeding.

State police filed the charges after an investigation into the theft between June and December 2016. Police said school officials found discrepancies in the student activities account. The district then hired the Butler accounting firm of Maher Duessel to help in the internal investigation and to conduct an audit.

It was later found that Vaughan, who worked as secretary for the district's athletic director, stole the money. She admitted to the theft and immediately resigned, police said.

Police said Vaughan admitted to taking money from fundraisers, dances and clubs, and instead of depositing the funds, pocketed the money. 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, and would use various local bank branches to make the deposits “to avoid detection.”

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 was hired in 1991, and had worked in different positions at the district, including as a Knoch High School secretary.