YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A Girard woman has pleaded not guilty to charges linked to the alleged theft of as much as a quarter of a million dollars from a long time Youngstown business.

The former bookkeeper for Jenkins Signs, 36-year-old Andrea Sweitzer, has been arraigned on three counts each of grand theft, forgery, and misusing credit cards.

She remains free on $20,000 bond, and her next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

The indictment from the Mahoning County Grand Jury names the victims of the alleged theft as Margaret and Joseph Jenkins, who operate the Jenkins Sign Company on Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown.

Sweitzer worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for Jenkins Signs for five years.

Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Ken Cardinal tells 21 News that investigators believe she used company credit cards and forged checks to steal between $200,000 and $250,000 from Jenkins.

Joseph Jenkins contacted police in April of last year after he discovered bank accounts that were supposed to have balances as high as $35,000, actually had negative balances.

According to the company website, Jenkins Signs has been in business locally since 1930.