Former Farrell Area School District employee accused of stealing over $10,000 from district

A former Farrell Area School District employee is facing multiple charges after police say he stole school funds during his time at the district.

According to a criminal complaint, these allegations date back to September of 2024 when detectives met with Farrell Area School District Superintendent Lori Adams-King and the district's solicitor to discuss a possible theft.

The district's solicitor Attorney Russell Lucas told police that 24-year-old Derek Randolph was the district's former business manager and that he was recently terminated from the district.

Police say it appeared that Randolph had overpaid himself multiple times throughout the course of his employment with the overpayments spanning between January and May of 2024 and totaling $3,025 according to the complaint.

According to the complaint, these overpayments were for his position as the district's "crossing guard coordinator." A position that never actually existed.

The complaint states that Randolph had a pre-termination hearing scheduled in July to present his side of the story. At that hearing, police say Randolph initially denied knowledge of the overpayments, but eventually admitted to knowing about them.

Police say Randolph resigned two days after the hearing.

Additionally, Adams-King told police that in the fall of 2023, her signature was found approving an expense report submitted by Randolph. Adams-King told police she never actually signed that she suspects Randolph of entering her office unauthorized and forging her signature.

Lucas further alleged that in January of 2024, Randolph had changed the mailing address on a credit card that was for business office use so statements would be sent directly to his home in Canfield.

Police say the bills for this credit card were paid for with money from the district's general fund. The complaint alleges that Randolph was using this card and these funds to pay for personal expenses including vehicle accessories, fuel and food purchases.

These allegedly misappropriated funds total to $4,800.

Furthermore, the complaint alleges that in March of 2024, Randolph withdrew $5,000 from the school's general fund for the purpose of "game cash boxes" startup money with apparent approval from the district's athletic director.

However, police say the athletic director never actually approved of this and he suspects that Randolph forged his signature too.

The complaint further alleges that an expense report created by Randolph implied that he was paid or reimbursed $984.99, but that check was to be canceled and another was to be issued in that same amount.

However, Adams-King told police Randolph voided the first payment in the accounting system, but still cashed both checks to pay himself $1,897.98.

Furthermore, police say a fuel expense report revealed Randolph had allegedly overpaid himself $339.95 in excess fuel expenses not authorized by the district.

In all, Randolph is accused of stealing $10,061.84 from the district.

According to the complaint, police interviewed Randolph May 8, 2025. Police say during this interview, Randolph admitted to creating the fake crossing guard coordinator position, using the district credit card for personal expenses and forging the signatures.

Court records show Randolph is charged with felony counts of forgery, theft and other reason access device is unauthorized by issuer, as well as one misdemeanor count of misapplication of entrusted government property.

He was arraigned in court on Tuesday, May 13 and is due back for a preliminary hearing May 27.