BELLAIRE - Village Water Clerk Lisa Flaherty waived her preliminary hearing late last week in Eastern Division Court.
Flaherty is facing multiple charges stemming from an investigation initiated by the Ohio State Auditor's Office after reports of missing water payments were brought to the office's attention.
She is charged with theft in office and tampering with records.
By waiving her preliminary hearing in front of Judge John Vavra, Flaherty's case has been bound over to the grand jury.
The theft in office and tampering with evidence charges are both third-degree felonies while the third charge is a misdemeanor.
On April 6, the Auditor of State's Athens Regional Office was contacted about suspected theft of utility payments.
The following day, Flaherty didn't report for her duties and utility information was missing from the village's computer system.
Flaherty's movements were followed and after a warrant was issued, Bellaire Police, along with officials from the auditor's office coordinated with officers in Binghamton, N.Y. to arrest Flaherty.
She waived her extradition and was returned to Belmont County last week.
