Ex-Oak Grove School manager charged with theft

The former business manager for Oak Grove Elementary District 68 was ordered held on $25,000 bond Tuesday after being charged with stealing more than $54,000 from the district.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Christen Bishop said Cheryl Roberts, 46, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of theft and theft by deception.

Bishop said Roberts, who was employed at the Green Oaks school district from 1995 until she resigned last fall for reasons unrelated to the charges, had full control over payroll checks.

Between 1998 and 2001, Bishop said, Roberts also served as an assistant girl's basketball coach at the school and was supposed to be paid one-half the annual salary stipend for the work.

Instead, Bishop said, Roberts paid herself double the amount she should have been paid, and continued to draw the stipend until she resigned from her position.

A forensic audit of the school's finances revealed Roberts collected $31,283 she was not authorized to be paid through the scheme, Bishop said.

Another $10,800 in unauthorized checks were issued by Roberts between July 2004 and July 2008 that were carried on the books as being paid to someone in the building maintenance department, but actually wound up in Roberts' personal bank accounts.

Bishop said another $11,964 in questionable payments from a variety of funds was uncovered in the audit and linked to Roberts.

District Superintendent Janice Matthews said school officials worked with their attorney and an independent auditing company to uncover the missing funds, and cooperated fully with the criminal investigation of Roberts.

Roberts, of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., surrendered on the charges in bond court with her attorney, John Murphy of Waukegan.

Murphy declined to comment as he left the courtroom.

Associate Judge Christopher Stride set the bond and ordered Roberts to appear in court March 4.