Carroll County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael V. Repella II granted judicial release to former Carrollton Schools treasurer Amy Spears during a Dec. 17 court hearing, according to reporting by The Free Press Standard.
Spears had been serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted of theft in office. The judge’s ruling converts that sentence into a three-year term of community control and orders her immediate release from prison under probation supervision.
As reported by The Free Press Standard, Repella said he reviewed Spears’ motion for judicial release, along with supporting documentation and her institutional record. He explained that the original prison sentence was imposed to underscore the seriousness of the offense and to deter similar misconduct involving public funds.
However, Repella noted that Spears complied with court instructions while incarcerated, maintained a clean disciplinary record and completed several educational and rehabilitation programs during her time in prison.
Under the terms of community control, Spears will be supervised by adult probation for three years and must meet all court-ordered conditions, including keeping her contact information current, following all directives from probation officers and avoiding any additional criminal activity.
