Former secretary at St. Aloysius Elementary School charged with theft; Audit shows $49,173 stolen from school

Edward Lewis

WILKES-BARRE - A former secretary at St. Aloysius Elementary School in South surrendered on charges she stole more than $49,000 from the school.

Michele A. Hivish, 50, of Maple Lane, Wilkes-Barre, was charged with theft and forgery. She surrendered on the charges at District Judge William Amesbury's office in Wilkes-Barre at about 11:20 a.m.

Wilkes-Barre police accused Hivish of forging the name of former school leaders on checks that she cashed. She is also accused with stealing money from two scholarship accounts.

Police claim an audit by the Diocese of Scranton showed Hivish had stolen $49,173.89.

Hivish was released on $35,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 29 in Central Court.