Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A woman accused of taking more than $10,000 from the Sumter School District was in court Friday morning.
55-year old Vivian Libby Dubose was given a $50,000 personal recognizance bond and cannot leave the state, except for approved trips to North Carolina involving business or family.
Dubose faces three charges: 2 counts of embezzlement exceeding $10,000 and misconduct in office.
She is accused of these charges while working as the director of the Child Early Reading Development and Educational Program for the district.
State prosecutors say while in that role in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, she bought a variety of consumer goods and converted at least $10,000 dollars of it for personal use. The second embezzlement charge accuses her of unlawfully charging the district 125 dollars an hour for training that she did not conduct. The full cost of that training exceeded $10,000.
The final misconduct in office charge accuses Dubose of failing to serve the district in good faith and exploiting the position for unlawful personal gain.
Dubose has no prior offenses.
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison along with a fine.
In the hearing, her lawyers say they are investigating and believe the charges are "in error".
