Powell woman cleared of charges related to misusing company credit cards

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As her attorney predicted last week, theft charges against a Powell woman were dropped Monday afternoon in Delaware County Common Pleas Court and the case against her was dropped.

Karen Lynn Miesse, 51, of 4242 Scenic View Drive, Powell, had been scheduled to go on trial Tuesday. She had been accused of misusing a credit card while she was president of a cheerleading club’s booster organization.

After a Dec. 2 Gazette story reported details of the case, one of Miesse’s attorneys, Mark Collins, contacted the newspaper and stated that an agreement had been reached with county prosecutors in which the charges would be dismissed and that a trial would not take place. Prosecutors were unavailable to confirm Collins’ comments last week, and court records indicated that the trial was still scheduled.

Miesse had been facing two charges of theft for allegedly using a credit card belonging to Buckeye Cheer Elite for personal purchases. Miesse was indicted by a Delaware County grand jury in July, as was Molly Suzanne Nelson, 44, of 4760 Seven Lakes, Powell, who served as the booster treasurer at the time the thefts occurred. Nelson also was indicted on two counts of theft.

Nelson, who originally pleaded not guilty, later confessed to the crimes and said Miesse had no knowledge of the credit card misuse. Miesse has maintained her innocence since her arraignment on Aug. 24.

“While probable cause to believe [Miesse] committed the offense existed at the time of the indictment, the co-defendant [Nelson] has since taken full responsibility for the theft committed,” said Andrew Bigler, assistant county prosecuting attorney, in a motion to dismiss the case Monday. “Further, the co-defendant [Nelson] would testify that she acted alone and without [Miesse’s] knowledge or cooperation.”

On Monday morning, Bigler asked that the two theft charges against Miesse be dismissed and the case be closed. Common Pleas Judge David Gormley granted the motion Monday afternoon and dismissed the charges against Miesse.

Prosecutors had alleged that between Jan. 1, 2009, and July 17, 2014, Nelson misused a credit card belonging to Buckeye Cheer Elite. Court documents allege that Nelson essentially stole $20,865.

Nelson’s attorney, Eric Brehm, said in court documents that Nelson was motivated by alcohol and Gormley ordered Nelson to undergo intervention and to pay back the $20,865.

Buckeye Cheer Elite is located at 10630 Sawmill Road, Powell.

Court documents indicate the case is closed.

Officials from Buckeye Cheer Elite said last week that neither woman is now involved with the business.

By Glenn Battishill

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Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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