SNOW HILL, Md. (AP) — A middle school teacher has been charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Worcester County teachers’ union.

Police say Denise Owens, 58, of Ocean Pines stole more than $433,000 from accounts belonging to the Worcester County Teacher’s Association. According to The Daily Times of Salisbury, police say Owens was in charge of all financial transactions for the union at the time of the thefts.

Detective Kyle Clark says Owens “had full access to the account” and “nobody really checked it.”

Owens was arrested Friday and charged with theft and theft scheme. She declined to comment when reached by The Daily Times. Police say she has not yet secured an attorney.

Owens has been teaching in the lower Eastern Shore county since 1988.

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