Camdenton school cafeteria worker charged for stealing lunch money

The Camden County prosecutor filed charges Thursday against a former cafeteria worker with Camdenton schools.

Cassandra Franklin is charged with stealing from students’ lunch accounts.

ABC 17 first reported the alleged theft Monday when a parent reached out to talk about her son’s missing lunch money.

Authorities accuse Franklin of underreporting about $127,000 in funds.

ABC 17 also learned she was the only person handling this money directly from the children for many years.

Franklin is charged with a class B felony for stealing.

ABC 17 has had multiple parents contact us, saying their children also fell victim to having money taken from them.

Many of them said they would give their children cash for lunch, and the child would bring that money to school to be put on their lunch account.

When they went to use it the next day, it would be gone.

Camden County Prosecutor Brian Keedy said between August 1, 2009 and September 17, 2014, Franklin stole at least $25,000 from the Food Service Department of Camdenton R-3 School District.

One parents told ABC 17 lunches cost at least $2 apiece. If she is found liable for the crime, that would equal about 12,500 lunches.

If Franklin is found guilty, she could spent at least 5, and up to 15 years in prison.