Former Vienna fiscal officer makes court appearance on theft charges

WARREN -- Former Vienna fiscal officer Linda McCullough pleaded not guilty to all charges Wednesday afternoon at her arraignment hearing in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

McCullough, who served as fiscal officer from 2019 to early 2024, was indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury Oct. 27 on two counts of theft in office, four counts of tampering with records and a charge of telecommunications fraud.

The indictment accused McCullough of using her elected position to pay personal credit card bills as well as personal and private business charges at several stores, including Pitt Stop Drive Thru, Walmart, Sam's Club, Home Depot, Lowe's, Tractor Supply and Partzilla.

It also alleges she electronically transferred the money from township bank accounts, and created, entered and submitted false records to conceal the transactions.

The township announced $1 million budgeted dollars were reported missing in February, explaining they didn't have money to pay their employees. Two police officers and three firefighters were laid off, and officials intended to forgo salaries until the situation was resolved.

Trustee Phil Pegg recalled the township's state during that time at a regular trustees meeting last week, noting they only had $14,000 in the bank and not enough to make payroll for township employees. They were ultimately saved by Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder, who gave them 80% of their income as an advance, according to Pegg, as the 80% was enough for them to make the next two payrolls until money came in normally.

McCullough signed any checks for the township during that time, as she was the only one who legally could do so.

McCullough was released on a $20,000 personal bond and was ordered by Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice to partake in a pre-trial release program.

Pegg, who attended the arraignment, considered it to be the "beginning of closure" for the township.

"I think as time goes on, more and more will come out about what occurred," Pegg said.

McCullough is scheduled to appear back in court for a pretrial hearing Jan. 8.