Ex-teacher admits embezzlement in Oklahoma

A former Wagoner High School teacher pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $142,000 during four years.

Susan Elizabeth “Beth” Spaulding, 38, received a 10-year deferred sentence in return for the guilty plea. She was ordered to pay restitution of the $142,983.60, to attend Gamblers Anonymous and do community service, District 27 Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Milburn said.

Court records state Spaulding will make a one-time payment of $25,983, followed by:

• 36 payments of $500 each month.

• 36 payments of $750 each month.

• 48 payments of $1,500 each month.

Spaulding’s probation will be supervised by the Wagoner County District Attorney’s Office.

Spaulding, a career tech teacher, was charged Sept. 13, 2012, after a school auditor discovered that items Spaulding claimed to have bought for her class were not in her classroom. The money was embezzled from 2007 to 2011.

Court documents state Wagoner High School’s treasurer, Jeff Jenkins, initiated the inquiry after becoming suspicious about the amounts being paid to Spaulding for items.

Court documents state Spaulding created fictitious invoices and submitted them for reimbursement. The phony invoices were discovered when the auditor searched a school-issued computer in Spaulding’s classroom.