The former director of an Orange County historical site recently pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges from her time in charge.

Ronda Tucker of Hillsborough pleaded guilty to felony counts of embezzlement in Orange County Superior Court on Tuesday. The charges stem from her spending of funds for the Burwell School on personal services in 2019.

Tucker ultimately accepted a plea deal that included four counts of plain embezzlement instead of charges for embezzlement of more than $100,000. She will serve a minimum of one year in prison, followed by a one-year suspended sentence with five years of probation. During that time, Tucker will aim to pay restitution.

Ronda Tucker, a Hillsborough resident, will face a minimum of one year in prison for her embezzlement of the Burwell School historical site. (Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.)

The Burwell School, which is the site of a 19th century girls’ school, is owned and operated by the Hillsborough Historic Commission. Located off the corner of West Union and North Churton Streets, the site hired Tucker as a guide in 2016 before promoting her to executive director in January 2019.

Amid discoveries of financial discrepancies in June 2019, which stemmed from Tucker spending more than $175,000 on personal good and services, the school fired Tucker and authorities charged her in October 2019.

Following Tucker’s firing, an internal investigation found the Burwell School failed to complete a full background check on Tucker when hiring her. Tucker previous pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge in 2005 from Orange County, Florida. She completed more than 100 hours of community service and three years of probation as part of the punishment in that case.

When reached on Wednesday, the Hillsborough Historic Commission said the Burwell School planned to not share any comment’s on Tucker’s conviction.

Photo via the Burwell School on Facebook.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

 

Related Stories
‹
Former Burwell School Director Charged with Embezzlement
Hillsborough police charged a former executive director for the historic Burwell School site with felony embezzlement on Thursday. This comes after the site was under investigation earlier in October over discrepancies previously found in its financial reports. Ronda Tucker of Hillsborough is accused of spending nearly $175,000 on various personal goods and services since 2016. […]
Gov. Cooper Appoints Orange County Residents to Historic Hillsborough Commission
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper recently appointed several Orange County residents to serve on various state boards and commissions, including new members of the Historic Hillsborough Commission. The governor shared his appointments on November 3, naming eight individuals to serve on the group that celebrates and promotes the history of the town and Orange County. […]
José Hidalgo Named Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year
José Hidalgo, a seventh-grade science teacher at A.L. Stanback Middle School in Hillsborough, was named the Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year Friday afternoon. Hidalgo was chosen from among 13 teachers who were named Teachers of the Year at their respective schools. “Hidalgo’s selflessness, dedication to his work, and ability to form strong relationships […]
STIHL Holds Open House, Celebration For New Orange County Distribution Center in Mebane
The power tool manufacturer STIHL welcomed corporate leaders, local government dignitaries and more to its open house celebration in Mebane.
Uproar Festival of Public Art to Return to Orange County in August
The Uproar Festival of Public Art returns this August to showcase large-scale, bold works of art outdoors in Orange County.
Orange County Reports Positive Rabies Test on Raccoon in Hillsborough
Orange County Animal Services has reported a positive rabies test on a deceased raccoon found in Hillsborough. On February 3, animal control received a call from a resident reporting their dog coming into contact with the raccoon near Joseph Road, located north of downtown Hillsborough off of Walnut Grove Church Road. The raccoon was retrieved […]
Deal to Expand Eno River State Park in Hillsborough Made Official; Historic Speedway Added to Park System
After nearly four years of negotiations, Eno River State Park is formally adding more than 205 acres in Hillsborough to its control.
Hillsborough Man Charged With Multiple Counts of Child Exploitation
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Hillsborough man Friday and have charged him with 15 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The sheriff’s office says Christopher M. Watson, 45, turned himself in at the magistrate’s office, immediately posted a $7,500 secure bond and appeared in court Monday afternoon. According to the sheriff’s […]
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Affect Local Government Services (2025)
The observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect this year: Town of Chapel Hill Town offices will be closed on Monday. Residential trash normally collected on Monday will be collected on Wednesday, January 22. Curbside recycling […]
Sheriff's Office Says Orange County Teen 'Safely Located' After Search
The Orange County Sheriff's Office shared an alert to the public Thursday morning, asking for assistance in locating 15-year-old Haylee Moore.
›