# Sheriff’s wife charged in PTO theft case

> Rachel Sawyers faces theft and debit card charges tied to a Tennessee school PTO she once helped run.
- Title: Sheriff’s wife charged in PTO theft case · Valleynewslive
- Summary: Rachel Sawyers faces theft and debit card charges tied to a Tennessee school PTO she once helped run. The case centers on PTO debit card spending, missing…
- Keywords: rachel sawyers, eric sawyers, carroll county, carroll county sheriff, clarksburg school, parent-teacher organization, tennessee comptroller’s office, theft charge, debit card fraud, huntingdon, tennessee, news
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/16/newly-elected-sheriffs-wife-arrested-just-weeks-after-husband-sworn-into-office-jail-records-show
- Published: 2026-09-16T00:09:15.032+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rachel sawyers, eric sawyers, carroll county, carroll county sheriff, clarksburg school, parent-teacher organization, tennessee comptroller’s office, theft charge, debit card fraud, huntingdon, tennessee, news
## Sheriff’s wife arrested
Rachel Sawyers was booked Monday in Carroll County, Tennessee. She is charged with theft of property over $1,000 and fraudulent use of a debit card.
## Timing drew notice
Her husband, Eric Sawyers, was elected Carroll County sheriff on Aug. 6 and sworn in on Aug. 31, only weeks before the arrest.
## PTO money at issue
The charges trace back to a Tennessee Comptroller’s Office investigation into the Clarksburg School Parent-Teacher Organization.
## Personal purchases alleged
Investigators said Sawyers misappropriated at least $1,490, including Amazon and Walmart purchases made with the PTO debit card.

> the purchases were for her personal use
## Records came late
Board members said purchases required approval, but Sawyers’ transactions did not get it. They also said she delayed handing over financial records.
## Controls now under review
Investigators flagged another $2,181.38 in poorly documented transactions. Board members said they are fixing the problems that let the alleged theft happen.
## Key takeaway

The case centers on PTO debit card spending, missing approvals and weak records that investigators say left some money untraceable.