Balch Street Community Center

The Balch Street Community Center houses the Youth Excellence Performance Arts Workshop for middle and high school students.

(Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com)

Alexandra Thomas

AKRON, Ohio -- The former executive director of a youth arts program is accused of stealing more than $97,000 from the program during a two-year span.

Alexandra Thomas, 39, of Akron, is charged with fourth-degree felony theft and identity fraud. She is not in police custody and a warrant was issued Friday for her arrest.

Thomas admitted to stealing $97,590 from the Youth Excellence Performance Arts Workshop, according to court records. Thomas was the executive director at the time of the theft. The organization is housed in the Balch Street Community Center.

The group's founder, Leslie Parker Barnes, reported in August that she was preparing the organization's tax returns when she discovered payments being made to an American Express account.

Barnes discovered someone used her personal information to open the account without her permission, according to police reports. Barnes told police she never opened an American Express account.

Akron detectives launched an investigation and reviewed records from the American Express account, a PNC Bank account and company records.

Police interviewed Thomas, who admitted that she used her position as the executive director to steal the money and open the credit card using Barnes' name, according to court records.

The program is celebrating its 25th year, according to its website.

"YEPAW uses the arts to engage middle and high school urban youth in activities that provide positive options for developing their talents, skills and self-esteem," the website says. "It provides the culture, relationships and opportunities needed by youth to pursue lifestyles of excellence, develop in a healthy and holistic manner, complete their high school and advanced education, prepare for their future careers, and serve others and their community."

Thomas is also facing a fifth-degree felony charge for passing bad checks. In that case, she is accused of writing a bad check for $3,703 to a woman who decorated her wedding reception in October at Zwisher Hall at St. Sebastian Church.

The woman reported to police she was unsuccessful in trying to get Thomas to pay after the check bounced. She pleaded not guilty Dec. 31 to that charge.