HOLLY SPRINGS – A former H.W. Byers High School financial secretary has pleaded guilty to charges of embezzling nearly $40,000 from the school district and could face up to 20 years in prison as well as a $25,000 fine in addition to restitution.
Dana Antoinette Walker, 27, of Briggs Cove, Lamar, was initially arrested in February 2022 by the Marshall County School District Police. The case was then turned over to the Office of the State Auditor for further investigation.
That investigation determined Walker embezzled $39,471.70 in school activity funds, which she collected from students and staff between August 2020 and February 2022. She was indicted in October 2022.
A restitution statement filed in circuit court last week shows Walker now owes the school district and its insurance company just over $43,000. As part of an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office, Walker pleaded guilty, and sentencing was deferred until Aug. 13.
At the time of the crime, Walker was employed as the school’s financial secretary and was entrusted with receiving, documenting, and depositing all school activity funds. This includes various items such as senior dues, athletic uniforms, parking decals, transcripts, and funds received from school sponsored fundraisers.
“Thank you to the investigators and prosecutors in this case,” State Auditor Shad White said. “We will continue to have a zero-tolerance policy for fraud in my office.”
Walker’s employment in the Marshall County School District is covered by a $50,000 surety bond. Surety bonds are similar to insurance and designed to protect taxpayers in the event that public money is misspent.