A clerical error has led to felony theft charges for a local man.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Austin Corsa, 20, of 2145 Rosedale Road, Irwin. Corsa is charged with one count of felony theft.
According to court documents, Corsa was an employee at a local fast-food restaurant. Corsa was owed $312 in his Oct. 9 paycheck. However, when he opened the check, it was for $2,541.99.
“It was obviously a clerical error and the check was issued in error,” Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said.
He said Corsa knew the check wasn’t correct, but he cashed it anyway.
The prosecutor said the restaurant attempted to talk with Corsa about the check and giving the money back.
He allegedly told restaurant officials that he wasn’t going to return the money.
Phillips said Corsa was taking something he knew he wasn’t entitled to and “at that point, it became criminal.”
The prosecutor said businesses should “do things right, administratively,” but acknowledged that sometimes mistakes happen.
“You don’t just get to take advantage of that situation,” Phillips said.
He likened it to an ATM machine that dispenses too much money. He said the recipient knows it isn’t their money and it is a crime to take something you know isn’t yours.
If convicted, Corsa could face as many as 12 months in prison.
Also indicted was:
– Carissa E. Lewis, 36, of 363 May St., Magnetic Spring. Lewis is charged with six counts of forgery, four counts of tampering with records and one count of grand theft. According to court records, between 2013 and June of this year, Lewis received between $7,500 and $150,000 in benefits from the Union County Department of Job and Family Services. To remain eligible for benefits, Lewis was required to show proof of income for her and other household members. According to court records, Lewis repeatedly presented letters of employment and paystubs she knew were forgeries.
If convicted on all counts, Lewis could face more than 27 years in prison.
– Codefendants Benjamin Pyers, 41, of 20242 Raymond Road, Marysville and Tashia Nicole Shaw, 34, of 268 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg. Pyers and Shaw are each charged with one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle and one count of receiving stolen property. According to court documents, on Oct. 12, Pyers and Shaw allegedly stole a 2002 Ford Focus.
Shaw is also facing a separate indictment for aggravated possession of drugs and possession of heroin stemming from an alleged incident in July involving both heroin and methamphetamine.
If convicted on both counts, Shaw could face as many as five years in prison. Pyers, if convicted on all counts, could face as many as 36 months in prison.
– Bryan K. Coolbaugh, 38, of 400 Windsor St., Marion. Coolbaugh is charged with one count of theft. According to court documents, in November, Coolbaugh allegedly stole a siding brake from a Marysville equipment rental company. If convicted, Coolbaugh could face as many as 12 months in prison.
– Kyle A. Slack, 33, of 18880 Paver Barns Road, Marysville. Slack is charged with one count of breaking and entering and two counts of theft. According to court documents, between July 1 and July 19, Slack allegedly broke into a home and stole various tools as well as a football championship ring. If convicted on all counts, Slack could face as many as 36 months in prison.
– Rachel Lee Conlin, 29, of Dayton. Conlin is charged with two counts of theft and six counts of forgery. According to court documents, between November and January Conlin allegedly forged and cashed a pair of checks, valued at $900. If convicted on all charges, Conlin could face as many as eight years in prison.