CHICORA — Annette Scott, Petrolia’s elected tax collector, borough secretary/treasurer, and wife to the borough mayor, is accused of helping herself to about $6,000 from the borough coffer.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Scott, 40, who is charged with felony theft.

Scott, who denies any wrongdoing, resigned her $2,000-a-year job last month as borough secretary by way of a text message.

But she still is the tax collector for the borough, Butler County and the Karns City School District. That is a four-year job she won in 2013.

According to a criminal complaint filed Monday at the office of District Judge Louis Stoughton, Scott wrote 20 checks to herself from borough funds in addition to the six checks she wrote to pay her salary as borough secretary between Oct. 3, 2013 and July 21, 2014.

“There is no reason that Scott should be writing any checks on the borough account in regards to her duties as tax collector,” the criminal affidavit states.

The affidavit says Scott denied taking any money when interviewed by a Butler County detective Charles Barger.

Scott reportedly said the checks were used for borough business, including a check for $630 in office supplies, and a different check for a new mower.

However, the criminal complaint alleges there was no need for office supplies, Scott did not have permission to write the checks, and the borough did not buy a mower.

According to the affidavit, borough council called a special meeting to meet with Scott and review documents in her possession.

Scott failed to attend, and instead she sent this text message to council woman Cinda Six: “We aren’t gonna make it (to the meeting). But I’ll have the books and everything to you Saturday. I’m resigning. I told Mr. Barger I have done things as I was instructed ... I git supplies for tax collecting and had to write check cause I had no card to charge it to. I got paid for taxes as I was instructed because we have no separate tax collector account for payment. I did as I was instructed and if it was the wrong way I had no idea because that’s how I was told. I’m not being accused of anything I didn’t do so I’ll have everything to you Sat and you guys can take over.”

Borough officials did not accept this as a resignation from Scott’s tax collecting role because “the borough has no control over her position as a tax collector,” said borough solicitor Michael Gallagher.

Scott could not be reached for comment.