Marietta Dance Studio Owner Arrested for Grand Theft Following Parental Complaints

On Friday, a Marietta woman and business owner, Stacey Ann Johnson, was arrested on a grand theft charge. The Marietta Police Department, with the assistance of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, conducted two search warrants that led to Johnson’s arrest on a fourth-degree felony charge of grand theft. The warrants were served at Stacey’s Dance Studio, located at 205 Pike St., and at Johnson’s residence at 631 Sixth St.

The arrest came after a group of parents approached an MPD detective on May 7, expressing concerns about payments made for costumes and other fees for their children to participate in dance competitions in the spring of 2024. Johnson had collected at least $10,695 from the parents but informed them in mid-April that their children would not be performing as promised.

Further investigation revealed that Stacey’s Dance Studio had never registered for the 2024 competitions despite collecting payments from the parents. Some parents received partial refunds but many have not yet received anything back. The MPD is urging anyone who may have been a victim of fraud or theft by Stacey’s Dance Studio to contact Detective A.J. Linscott at 740-376-2007 ext. 1319 for more information and updates on this ongoing case.