HAMILTON — A former Fairfield teacher accused of taking money from a student activity account was cleared Friday of any wrongdoing by a Butler County jury.

        Heather Stickler was charged with felony counts of theft in office and unauthorized use of property after school officials in March 2000 discovered $781.81 missing from a student council account at West Elementary School. At the time, Ms. Stickler was a second-grade teacher and one of two advisers to the school's student government.

        “After 20 months of threats and accusations, to day a jury vindicated Heather,” said John O'Shea, Ms. Stickler's attorney. “Heather was first charged with a misdemeanor, which was dismissed when she refused to plead guilty to anything.”

        Although disappointed, Assistant Prosecutor David Kash said he accepted the jury's decision.

        “The case was tried well,” Mr. Kash said.

        Ms. Stickler has not been in a Fairfield classroom since March 2000. She is now teaching in North Carolina, Mr. O'Shea said. The Fairfield Board of Education officially fired Ms. Stickler last April, effective at the end of the 2000-01 school year, although she had been on unpaid leave since shortly before charges against her were filed.

        Mr. O'Shea said his client has not decided whether she wants to return to the Fairfield Schools. She is a 1990 Fairfield High School graduate. She became a substitute teacher in the district in 1994 and became a full-time teacher the following year.

        Just three weeks before calling police, West Principal Roger Martin wrote Ms. Stickler a letter of recommendation when she was nominated for a 2000 Ashland Teacher Achievement Award. During her employment with the schools, Ms. Stickler was a cheerleading and student government sponsor, a summer school teacher, unit leader, tutor and a summer latchkey leader.

        The missing money from the account, which came mostly from a fall and Valentine's Day candy sale, still has not been recovered or reimbursed through insurance, said John Pennell, Fairfield Schools' administrative assistant for business.

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