Former school district employee accused of stealing money

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Cherokee County school district employee faces numerous charges for allegedly stealing money from the district, the superintendent said Friday afternoon.

Teresa Bowen, former supervisor of purchasing for the district, has been charged with four counts of felony financial transaction card fraud, three felony counts of theft by taking, one misdemeanor count of theft by taking, and one felony count of theft by conversion, said Mike McGowan, district spokesman.

Bowen, 43, submitted her resignation to school officials Thursday, McGowan said. She had been employed with the school district since July 1999, he said.

An internal investigation into the allegations began on Aug. 23, McGowan said. The investigation continues, he said.

Bowen turned herself in and was booked in to the Cherokee County jail. She was later released on $60,000 bond, Lt. Jay Baker with the sheriff's office said Friday afternoon.