Marietta business owner arrested for robbery | News, Sports, Jobs

A Marietta woman and business owner was arrested Friday on robbery charges.

The Marietta Police Department, with assistance from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, executed two search warrants on Friday which resulted in the arrest of a local business owner, Stacey Ann Johnson, 48, for fourth-degree grand larceny, according to an MPD news release.

The search warrants were served for the business, Stacey's Dance Studio, 205 Pike St., and the residence of Johnson, the owner, at 631 Sixth St.

On May 7, an MPD detective was approached by a group of parents of nine students at the studio who indicated they had paid late 2023/early 2024 for costumes and numerous other fees for their children to participate in three competitions. dance in spring. of 2024, the press release indicates.

In total, she collected at least $10,695 from parents, according to the release. In mid-April, Johnson met with a group of parents and informed them they would not participate in all three competitions in 2024, the release said.

According to the release, Johnson told them that one of the three organizations would refund their money and the other two organizations would not refund but would apply the fees through 2025.

Suspicious, one of the parents called the competition organizations and learned that Stacey's Dance Studio had never entered the 2024 competitions, which was confirmed by the detective, the statement said.

By mid-May, a few parents had received partial refunds while many parents had received nothing, the release said.

Marietta Police are asking anyone who may have been a victim of suspected fraud or theft by Stacey's Dance Studio to contact Detective AJ Linscott at 740-376-2007 ext. 1319.