(Adair Co.) A former Orient-Macksburg Community School District employee has been arrested on a warrant charging her with first-degree theft.
The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says 36-year-old Alisha Louise Geidel, of Creston, was arrested on January 12. Bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety, and Geidel posted bond the same day.
According to the report, Geidel was employed by the Orient-Macksburg Community School District from May 2021 through May 2024. During that time, employment contracts indicate she held positions including Human Resources Director, Payroll Clerk and Accounting Clerk.
As part of her employment, Geidel was eligible to receive a “single” health insurance plan at no cost. District policy states that employees who elected to enroll in a “family” insurance plan were responsible for paying the additional cost above the single plan, with that amount to be deducted from their monthly paycheck.
While serving as the district’s Payroll or Accounting Clerk, Geidel used payroll software login credentials unique to her to manipulate the payroll system so that the employee-paid portion of a family health insurance plan was not deducted from her paychecks.
Authorities say the Orient-Macksburg Community School District sustained a financial loss of at least $739.10 per month for a minimum of 32 months, with the total loss exceeding $10,000.
