From staff reports
A Utica woman accused of the fraudulent withdrawal of more than $5,000 from the Friends of the Franklin Wrestling Club during her time as the organization’s president waived her preliminary hearing Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.
Rebekah Eakin was charged with 43 felony counts of access device fraud and a felony count of theft by unlawful taking.
A criminal complaint filed through district judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said that on Nov. 20, Franklin police received a complaint reporting that more than $5,000 had been stolen from the club’s account while under the direct responsibility of Eakin.
It was found that from January 2016 to August 2017, Eakin had used a debit card issued to the booster club to make 43 transactions totaling $5,125 for her personal benefit, the complaint said.
Police spoke with Eakin on Jan. 9, and she admitted to using the account for personal gains, such as paying her cell phone bill, and said she had always returned the money to the account, the complaint said.
Eakin said she had lost the majority of the withdrawal receipts, the complaint said.
She remains free on $10,000 unsecured bail.
