Former Golden High School Secretary Charged With Embezzlement

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4)- A former financial secretary at Golden High School has been charged with embezzlement.

Judith Eakins was arrested by police in Golden on Jan. 9. She has been charged with theft and embezzlement of public property.

Eakins, 53, was employed at Golden High School from Oct. 1999 to Nov. 2012. she was hired by the school district as a paraprofessional but worked in several positions before becoming financial secretary in July 2008.

According to court records in Sept. 2012 an internal audit at the high school revealed losses in numerous school accounts managed by Eakins between 2009 and 2012.

Discrepancies in receipts indicated that cash turned in to Eakins was not deposited into the school's account. The audit team also said it appeared that financial documents had been manipulated.

Eakins is suspected of taking nearly $156,000 during the three year period.

Some of the money that Eakins is alleged to have embezzled came from ticket sales to school events such as prom, concerts, drama productions and homecoming events.

As staff, Eakins worked the door or gate at some of these events and personally collected money for ticket sales.

The money should have been kept in the school's safe, which was located in Eakins's office, until she made the weekly deposit in the school's account.

Eakins is also suspected of having misused the school credit card and taken property she purchased with card for her personal use.

Eakins is being held on a $50,000 bond.