ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A woman allegedly stole more than $5,000 while serving as a chairperson for a St. Charles County high school booster club.
The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Amanda Ashby, 38, of St. Peters with two felony counts of stealing and one felony count of forgery.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, two members of the booster club reported to police last year that Ashby kept more than $2,000 collected from a craft fair in 2022, rather than turning it over to the club.
Per court documents, Ashby also collected funds for a 2023 craft fair, which was later canceled. She reportedly failed to return more than $3,000 collected after the event was canceled.
Questioned by a police officer in September 2023, Ashby claimed she inadvertently mixed the craft fair funds with her personal funds. Per court documents, she informed police of separate savings account for the craft fair and advice from an accountant to not return funds until after the 2023 craft fair for tax purposes.
Court documents state, based on an investigative subpoena, that police could not trace a savings account specifically for the craft fair. Furthermore, documents state that the alleged accountant denied any ties to the craft fair and an associated email account with was traced back to Ashby.
According to court documents, 38 people who paid for the canceled 2023 craft fair did not receive refunds. Between the 2022 event and the canceled 2023 events, Ashby is accused of stealing $5,335.
Ashby has a criminal summons hearing scheduled for Oct. 11, per Missouri court records.
