Erie woman waives felony charge in Dairy Queen theft

This article was originally published on GoErie.com by Tim Hahn on February 21, 2019

A former assistant manager of an Erie Dairy Queen accused by city police of stealing more than $97,000 from the restaurant over two years faces a felony theft charge under an agreement that also requires paying back her ex-employer.

Kelsey E. Szparaga, 24, waived to court a third-degree felony count of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds at her preliminary hearing on Thursday morning and is expected to plead guilty to the charge at a later date under an agreement in which she will also pay full restitution, Erie County Assistant District Attorney Justin Smith said. Third-degree felony counts of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property were withdrawn under the agreement reached during the hearing before Erie 6th Ward District Judge Timothy Beveridge.

Szparaga remains free on $15,000 unsecured bond.

Erie police accuse Szparaga of misappropriating funds totaling $97,740.36 from the Dairy Queen at 3710 Peach St. between Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 22, 2018.

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