Akron woman sentenced in Highland County forgery case

An Akron woman indicted on forgery and theft charges in Highland County nearly two years ago was sentenced recently to community control.

Rachale L. Button, 40, was indicted in May 2023 and charged with forgery, a fourth-degree felony, and theft, a fifth-degree felony. She pleaded guilty in December 2024 to the forgery charge, with the theft charge dismissed.

The indictment alleged that in December 2022, Button “did, with the purpose to defraud, or knowing that she was facilitating a fraud, utter or possess with purpose to utter” a check valued between $1,000 and $7,500.

According to a bill of particulars, a Hillsboro business owner “reported that an unknown female cashed a fraudulent check from the business account in the amount of $1,544.90” at a Hillsboro bank. The check was allegedly “made out to Rachale Button,” and bank surveillance footage from the date in question allegedly showed Button making the transaction.

During a sentencing hearing Feb. 5, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Button to three years of community control and ordered her to comply with mental health treatment recommendations, including taking prescribed drugs appropriately.

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