Former Wapak utility clerk indicted

WAPAKONETA - A grand jury indicted Christine Ann Steinke, 48. a former Wapakoneta utilities office clerk, Thursday on 15 felony charges related to the alleged theft of around $150,000 from the city of Wapakoneta, according to a news release from the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

Ohio Attorney General public information officer Kelly May said the true amount stolen is still in flux, but officials are confident at least $150,000 has been stolen. The indictment accounts for an amount between $150,000 and $750,000.

Steinke was indicted on 13 felony counts of tampering with records and two felony counts of theft in office. Auglaize Common Pleas Court records show the dates of offenses. Each tampering offense accounts for a different year of employment. The indictment alleges, while serving as utilities clerk from 2009 to 2021, Steinke took portions of customer payments to the department for her personal use.

"There's no clearer example of abuse of power than stealing from those she serves for her own personal gain," Yost said in the statement. "The people of Auglaize County deserve better, and we want to ensure that justice prevails."

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was asked to investigate after a software upgrade by the city's utilities department revealed discrepancies and local police were alerted to the alleged thefts.

Steinke had been placed on paid leave in September 2021 and two months later, she resigned her position.

A BCI agent and an intelligence analyst spent over a year on the case combing through records. Upon completion of its investigation, BCI referred its findings to the Auglaize County Prosecutor's Office.

"The yearlong investigation initiated by the Wapakoneta Police Department and continued by Ohio BCI involved the gathering and review of thousands of pages of records, which resulted in the indictment against Steinke," county prosecutor Edwin "Ed" Pierce said in the release. "While numerous businesses and government utility customers payments were involved, those customers did not suffer any direct loss."

Steinke was taken into custody Thursday evening and released Friday on her own recognizance after a bond hearing in the Auglaize County Common Pleas Court. The next court date has not yet been scheduled.

This past September, Wapakoneta business owner Kyle Binkley began asking questions at a Wapakoneta City Council meeting after receiving a phone call from investigators related to a utility bill. City officials at that time were reluctant to acknowledge the ongoing investigation.

Wapakoneta Police Chief Calvin Schneider declined to comment, saying the investigation was conducted by BCI and the City of Wapakoneta itself is a victim in the case.