Public records · Records still coming in

The Crescendo Club case: $30,495 alleged, filed as a misdemeanor

$30,495 of a school club's money, filed as a misdemeanor.
Rebecca L. Wolfgang is charged with theft of $30,495.20 in club money and has pleaded not guilty. The amount is felony-range; the charge was filed as a misdemeanor.

The issue

The Crescendo Club is a Lowellville school-based group that raises money so students can attend special events. In October 2026 the club's treasurer, Rebecca L. Wolfgang, was charged with theft. We wanted to know how a $30,000 theft ends up as a misdemeanor.

She is charged, not convicted. She has pleaded not guilty. Everything below is what the court filings say is alleged. An accusation is not proof.

What we asked for

Agency Sent What Answer
Lowellville Police (F1) Oct 22, 2026 The police report and case file No response.
Struthers Law Director John N. Zomoida Jr. (F2) Oct 22, 2026; follow-ups Oct 25, 28, 31, Nov 4; receipt-confirm Nov 5 The prosecutor's case records No records. No confirmation the request was received.
Struthers Municipal Court (H1) Oct 31, 2026 The court filings Received Nov 4, 2026: 6 PDFs
Village of Lowellville (H2), for Solicitor Lanzo Oct 31, 2026; check-in Nov 7 Charging/plea records Receipt confirmed Nov 2; on Nov 9 the Village secretary said she sent our follow-up to "our police chief, solicitor, and mayor." No records yet.

We also asked Law Director Zomoida a media question on Nov 4: why M1 and not a felony? He replied Nov 5. He said our email wasn't received by him or his assistant and that he saw it on Facebook. He said his office doesn't comment on pending criminal cases, and that "Until a conviction is entered, no outcome is predetermined, and all options remain under consideration." He didn't say why it was filed as an M1. That reply is about our media question. Our records request is a separate thing, and it's still unanswered.

What we got

  1. Complaint, filed Oct 21, 2026
  2. Case information sheet
  3. Written not-guilty plea, waiver of appearance and speedy-trial waiver (filed Oct 22, 2026)
  4. Prosecutor's praecipe (request) for subpoenas
  5. Summons
  6. Summons return

The court redacted victim info (the club officer's identity) under Ohio's court-records rules and Marsy's Law. That's proper. Still missing from the court: the issued subpoenas and a docket/journal printout. The court pointed us to its website for the docket.

What we found

1. The charge. State v. Rebecca L. Wolfgang, Struthers Municipal Court case CRB 2600392, Judge James A. Melone. Charge: Theft, R.C. 2913.02(A)(2). "Offense Level: M1." The complaint is signed by Struthers Law Director John N. Zomoida Jr. as prosecutor. (Complaint, p. 1)

2. The alleged facts, per the sworn complaint. (Complaint, probable-cause statement) - From about May 1, 2025 to about June 30, 2026, in Lowellville. - On August 24, 2026, the club's president met with Lowellville police and reported that the club found discrepancies in its bank accounts. - According to the president, Wolfgang "admitted to using Crescendo Club funds for personal expenses, including expenses associated with a gambling addiction." That's the president's account, as written in the complaint. - The financial records showed "payments to Fan Duel totaling $25,775.00," plus payments to Verizon, FirstEnergy and McDonald's. - Total alleged: $30,495.20. The club "continues to examine its financial records for additional unauthorized transactions."

3. What the court has done since. (Court's public online docket, checked Nov 12, 2026) - Nov 5: the prosecutor filed more subpoena requests. - Nov 6: "Defendant appeared and plead not guilty. Set for trial." Bond: own recognizance, with no contact with the Lowellville Crescendo Club. - Pre-trial hearing: Dec 14, 2026, 9:30 AM. - Status: Pending. The online case info still shows "1st Degree Misdemeanor."

4. What the law says about the dollar amount. Under R.C. 2913.02(B)(2), theft of $1,000 or more is a felony, and $7,500 to under $150,000 is a fourth-degree felony (F4). A first-degree misdemeanor carries up to 180 days and a $1,000 fine. $30,495.20 is more than four times the F4 line. Because this was filed as a misdemeanor, it stays in Struthers Municipal Court with the city law director prosecuting. A felony would normally go to the county prosecutor and a grand jury.

What's next

  • Why was a $30,495 theft charge filed as a first-degree misdemeanor? The prosecutor's only answer so far: no comment on a pending case, and "all options remain under consideration."
  • Why hasn't the Law Director's office produced any records, or even confirmed it got our Oct 22 request? Ohio law requires public offices to respond to records requests within a reasonable time. It's been three weeks.
  • Why hasn't Lowellville Police answered at all?
  • Has the club finished going through its books? The complaint says the total could go up.

Our opinion: It's a kids' club. If the amount alleged is right, we think it's a felony amount under the statute. Maybe there's a good legal reason it was charged lower. Prosecutors make those calls all the time. We'd just like somebody to say what it is.

Follow-ups

  • Pre-trial Dec 14, 2026. We'll check the docket after.
  • Our records request to the Law Director is still open.
  • We've asked the court about the issued subpoenas and a docket printout.

Documents

These are the records as the agencies released them. We blacked out only information that could identify a minor, our own personal contact details, and adult Social Security numbers. Any other black boxes were put there by the agency.

Everything on this page comes from public records we requested under Ohio's Public Records Act (R.C. 149.43), unless we say otherwise. Anything labeled "Our opinion" or "We think" is our opinion. Questions are questions, not accusations. People charged with crimes are presumed innocent. See something wrong? Tell us: TheMLOBROS@gmail.com · (330) 542-5449.
The MLO Bros