Law enforcement investigation continues into alleged theft of funds at BCS

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An investigation is ongoing into an alleged theft of funds by a staff member within the Bellefontaine City Schools.

Law enforcement was dispatched Aug. 29 to the district’s central office regarding an apparent theft of funds, according to an incident report filed with officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department.

Police Chief Chris Marlow confirmed the allegations and said that investigation into the suspected theft is ongoing. He emphasized that no charges have yet been filed in the case and said he could not speak further about the nature of the alleged thefts, citing the ongoing investigation.

“The district discovered that funds that were to be deposited into a district student activity account were not in fact deposited,” Bellefontaine Superintendent Brad Hall said in an e-mail, also reporting that the student activity account in question was related to band.

“The district is fully cooperating with the Bellefontaine Police Department by providing current and past financial records.”

Bellefontaine High School band director Jeremy Karg resigned abruptly, effective Sept. 1. His resignation was accepted by the Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education at their meeting Monday evening, Sept. 11.

Karg served as a music educator for 32 years. Heather Rivon is now serving as the interim band director, district officials said.

Parents were notified in late August via e-mail that, “Mr. Karg intends to resign for purposes of retirement, effective Sept 1,” and that effective immediately, he would no longer be a part of the band program.