Tara Hupp, director of Washington County Board of Elections

Late Wednesday evening, Washington County Board of Elections Director Tara Hupp, of 5250 State Route 26, Marietta, was charged with theft, a fourth-degree felony, for writing a series of checks made to cash from the Marietta Tigers Booster Club.

According to Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks, the sheriff’s office began their investigation Wednesday morning after the board overseeing the Marietta Tigers Booster Club reported the alleged theft after they discovered some funds were missing.

Hupp was issued a summons and charged with theft Wednesday evening. While she denied her involvement at first, Hupp eventually admitted using the money to pay her bills.

The sheriff’s office is currently investigating checks totaling up to $40,000. At this point, a theft of approximately $30,000 has been confirmed. The checks were made and cashed over a period of time spanning 2016.

A court date has yet to be set as of now. A call to the board of elections Thursday morning confirmed that Hupp was not at work.

Check back for a more detailed story in Friday’s issue of The Marietta Times.