Petrey was the treasurer of the Clearcreek Twp. Soccer Association and had sole access to the funds. Assistant Prosecutor John Arnold said between January 2008 and January 2012 Petrey embezzled $64,800. When new officers took over the organization they found discrepancies in the books and alerted the Springboro Police Department.
Petrey pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft in December. Peeler could have sentenced Petrey to prison for up to 18 months.
Petrey apologized to the association, the community, her family and friends and asked for forgiveness.
“My actions were selfish and I did not take into account the devastation that was being caused to those I love and those that trusted me,” she said.
Peeler noted that Petrey earned a salary of $50,000 when she worked at NCR before it moved and that she earned more than $30,000 before she was fired from her most recent job.
“I ran up substantial credit debt,” Petrey told the judge when he asked her why she took the money.
Petrey repaid $11,998 before she pleaded guilty and paid the balance after the court proceeding. She told Peeler she took the money out of her IRA account, and he said it was good her family didn’t have to help bail her out.
Peeler also ordered her to perform 100 hours of community service. Petrey will be on probation for three years and cannot serve on any volunteer boards.
Dawn Cunningham, the current president of sports association, said she was glad the matter is over.
“I hope to take the money and put it into our program and make the improvements we haven’t been able to make,” she said. “It’s a shame that Michele’s family is suffering because of what she did.”
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