Former Eastern Band Booster treasurer enters guilty plea for theft from organization

POMEROY – A Coolville woman has entered a guilty plea on a charge of theft from a school organization.

Appearing in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas before Judge I. Carson Crow, Lisa B. Victory, 40, changed her plea from not guilty to guilty to one count of Theft and/or Grand Theft, a felony of the fifth degree. Victory had been indicted by a Meigs County Grand Jury on Oct.13, 2016 for taking money from the Eastern Band Boosters where she had served as treasurer, to which Victory admitted to theft of $5,000.

Sentencing will be March 29, however, Victory was to pay restitution immediately. While Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney James Stanley is recommending Victory be on community control for five years, there would also be the possibility of a 12 month prison term. If Victory were to violate community control, she could serve prison time. It is possible Judge Crow rejects the recommended sentence, however.

Victory appeared with her counsel, Michael Huff, during what had been scheduled as a pre-trial hearing. The plea change, however vacated the possibility of a trial.

On Dec. 19, 2016, officers from the Eastern Band Boosters were in the courtroom for what had been scheduled as an initial pre-trial. Issues arose at that point in which a guilty plea involving diversion appeared to not be accepted by the court. A plea agreement did not come to fruition with the previous Prosecutor, Colleen Williams.