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Woman Accused Of Stealing From Gwinnett School

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga.,None — The former bookkeeper of a Gwinnett County high school is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a local school fund.

Channel 2 Action News Reporter Manuel Bojorquez obtained a copy of the criminal arrest warrant against Mary Annette Ham of Lawrenceville on Monday.

Woman Accused Of Stealing From Gwinnett School

An investigator with Gwinnett Schools Police wrote that Ham failed to deposit more than $4,300 dollars into a school bank account.

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The account holds money generated from school activities such as student clubs, parent fundraisers, ticket and vending machine sales.

"We don't tolerate anyone stealing from our schools," said Gwinnett County School spokesman Jorge Quintana.

"This is unacceptable and that's why we investigated, the individual was terminated and now faces these charges," Quintana said.

School officials fired Ham when they discovered a discrepancy during an audit in January. After a months-long investigation, a judge signed a warrant for her arrest last week.

"We do believe that there may be additional funds missing from Meadowcreek High," Quintana said. But there is no word on how much more money could be missing, as the investigation is ongoing.

A relative answered Ham's door at her Lawrenceville home and said she was not there. The woman did not provide a way to contact Ham or her attorney.

When asked about the charges, the relative told Bojorquez, "We just won't talk about it."