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Church preschool director accused of stealing more than $30K

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) A church preschool director is accused of theft after thousands of dollars were reported missing from the school’s bank account.

Prosecutors charged Shelley Randolph, 50, with two felony theft charges on Thursday.

According to an affidavit for probable cause, in December of 2013 Randolph started as director of Avalon Missionary Preschool, located at 1500 Lower Huntington Rd. She was responsible for the school’s checking account and activities including enrollment of students, collecting tuition, writing checks for preschool related items and making deposits.

Court documents show an investigation started in 2015 after a non-sufficient funds check was reported. A review uncovered four checks written by Randolph to herself in 2014 for non-preschool related expenses. The four checks totaled more than $1,800.

Randolph was also issued a church business credit card, according to court records. Documents said activity from January 2014 through April 2015 showed numerous unauthorized charges to various department stores, restaurants, grocery stores and home improvement stores.

Court documents showed results from an audit that found she charged nearly $8,500 on the church issued credit card.

The total amount of loss from January of 2014 to April 2015 totaled $30,376.75, according to the probable cause.

A warrant has been issued for Randolph’s arrest.

Avalon Missionary Church said she no longer works at the preschool.