GRANGER, Iowa — The former Woodward-Granger Community School District business manager who allegedly directed more than $250,000 in improper payroll disbursements to her own bank account was arrested Tuesday in Adel.
Melissa Lee Lantz, 35, of Woodward was arrested on a Dallas County warrant for first-degree theft in connection with “a string of suspicious financial transactions” between 2012 and 2017, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), which assisted the Iowa Auditor of State’s office in the yearlong investigation.
The financial irregularities were discovered last summer, and Lantz was placed on administrative leave Aug. 4, 2017. The Woodward-Granger School Board accepted Lantz’ resignation Aug. 10, 2017.
The Auditor of State’s comprehensive investigation of the impropery disbursements began in January 2018. The full report is available online.
Lantz’s lawyer, Todd Lantz of the Weinhardt law firm in Des Moines, said in a March email to DCI investigators that Lantz “understands that she demonstrated very poor judgment and acted wrongly” and that she “accepts responsibility for her actions and is deeply remorseful.”
Lantz was taken into custody Tuesday at the Dallas County Jail and was released after posting $10,000 bond.
