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Tamara Jo Ward, 44, of Englewood, allegedly pilfered $18,000 from a Girl Scout troop over five years and faces five counts of theft.Click to enlarge

DAYTON — A former Girl Scout leader was in the Montgomery County Jail on Monday afternoon, July 21, and charged with stealing $18,000 in cookie money.

Detectives arrested Tamara Jo Ward, 44, of Union when she came to the Montgomery County sheriff's Harrison Twp. offices to be interviewed Monday morning, Sheriff Phil Plummer said.

The alleged thefts took place over five years.

Ward faces five counts of theft.

"She took the cookie money and nut money" and spent it on trips and the like, Plummer said.

Ward allegedly used a debit card to access the account she established for the troop at a local bank, Plummer said.

"Girl Scouts of Western Ohio filed the charges on behalf of the members of the troop," said Joy Brock, Girl Scout spokeswoman.

Ward started Troop 2162 in 2000, Plummer said. According to Brock, the troop disbanded in 2007.

"All adults who work with girls are carefully screened," Brock said. Such screening includes reference and criminal background checks.

"Money management and fiscal responsibility are important skills girls learn from the Girl Scout Cookie program activities," she said. "Less than 1 percent of cookie money goes unrecovered."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2290 or dpage@DaytonDailyNews.com.