Former Golden High School financial secretary accused of stealing $156K pleads guilt in Colorado

A former Golden High School secretary has pleaded guilty of theft for stealing thousands of dollars from the school.

Judith Marie Eakins, 54, pleaded in court Wednesday to stealing almost $156,000. She was convicted of one count of theft over $20,000, a felony, according to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.

Eakins, of Wheat Ridge, was employed at Golden High School from October 1999, until November 2012. She worked in several positions before becoming a financial secretary in July 2008.

In September 2012, an internal audit revealed losses in numerous school accounts managed by Eakins between 2009 and 2012.

Investigators found that cash turned over to Eakins was not deposited into the school's account. The audit team also found that financial documents had been manipulated.

Some of the stolen money was from ticket sales to school events such as prom, concerts, drama productions and homecoming. As staff, Eakins worked the door or gate at some of these events and personally collected money for tickets sales.

Eakins stole money for her personal use. She also misused the school credit card and took property purchased with the card for her personal use.

Eakins, who faces up to 12 years in prison, will be sentenced on Oct. 21.