ST. PETERS, Mo. — A St. Peters woman is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from a St. Charles County high school booster club, court records said.
While acting in as the chairperson of a high school booster club Amanda Ashby, 37, allegedly collected thousands of dollars intended for a 2022 craft fair but kept the money instead.
"[Ashby] made numerous excuses as to why the money was not provided to the booster club," court records said. "Ultimately, the current chairperson and treasurer claimed Ashby kept a total of $2,125.00 from the 2022 craft fair."
Ashby also allegedly collected funds for a 2023 art fair, and those funds never made it to the booster club either.
"In total, thirty-eight separate individuals reported to the St. Peters Police Department they paid Ashby to participate in the November 2023 craft fair that was ultimately canceled," court records said. "As these individuals were never provided refunds, this totaled $3,210.00."
During an interview with a St. Peters police officer, Ashby told investigators she accidentally mixed the art fair funds with her personal savings account, court records said.
She also claimed her accountant told her not to pay any of the funds "because it would affect her taxes." She gave investigators copies of emails she claimed were from her accountant but not before trying to scratch out the email account they were sent from.
"Through further investigation, to include an investigative subpoena, it was determined the email account she alleged belonged to her accountant was likely created by Ashby herself as the recovery email and IP address returned to her," court records said.
Ashby's alleged accountant denied ever performing accounting services for her and told investigators they had no knowledge of her involvement with the craft fairs, the court records said.
In total, Ashby kept $5,335, according to the charges.
"lt is believed there were additional funds provided to Ashby that are still unaccounted for as she was the sole contact for the 2023 craft fair vendors," the court records said
Ashby, a resident of the 1900 block of Spruce Street, faces two counts of stealing $750 or more and one count of forgery; all charges are class D felonies.
Ashby is scheduled to appear in court to face her charges on Oct. 11.
