Judge sentences cafeteria worker who stole $90,000

PITTSBURGH — A former worker at a school cafeteria in the Pittsburgh suburbs who previously pleaded guilty to stealing more than $90,000 from student meal accounts was sentenced to jail Wednesday.

Kathleen Smith, of Carnegie, told investigators that she took the money from Keystone Oaks School District students to pay her bills.

Allegheny County prosecutors say Smith, 56, used computer software to manipulate the meal accounts, stealing $92,619 during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years.

The district attorney's office began investigating after other school food service workers said they thought someone was stealing in May 2013. The DA's office charged Smith with theft in March.