Stephanie K. Austin, 41, has been charged with three Level 5 felony counts of theft in Jackson Circuit Court for allegedly stealing $160,142.78 in cash deposits from the Jackson County Water Co..
The charges follow an investigation by Detective Jac Sanders, which began after an audit revealed discrepancies in the utility’s financial records. Austin, who worked in accounts receivable and handled cash payments at the utility, was initially placed on unpaid administrative leave on March 1 after missing transactions were identified.
During an interview with Sanders on March 13, Austin claimed innocence, asserting that she was not the only person with access to the funds. She also suggested the alleged missing money may have been an ongoing issue for nine years, though evidence documented missing deposits over the past two years.
The investigation included reviewing financial records, audits, employee statements, and security footage. The theft allegations cover three time periods:
Count I: Feb. 6, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025 — $53,685.33
Count II: Feb. 1, 2025 – Sept. 2, 2025 — $50,933.54
Count III: Sept. 3, 2025 – Feb. 25, 2026 — $55,523.91
Authorities noted that customer accounts were not affected, as all payments were properly posted.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
