BUTLER CO., Pa. (EYT) – Additional details of a case against a Moniteau teacher accused of theft from the Karns City Elementary Basketball program have been released.
Court documents indicate the Butler-based State Police filed the following criminal charges against 40-year-old Wendy J. Taylor, of Chicora, on September 23:
– Other Reason Access Device Is Unauthorized By Issuer, Felony 3
– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Misdemeanor 1
– Theft By Failure To Make Required Disposition of Funds, Misdemeanor 1
According to a criminal complaint filed on Monday, September 23, by Trooper Knirnschild, of PSP Butler, state police were provided with a bank statement for the Karns City Elementary Basketball program on September 10 was provided to state police. The statement, which was addressed to a Chicora address, was opened, and debits were observed on the statement that were inconsistent with the purpose of the program.
On September 11, Trooper Knirnschild interviewed teachers in the Karns City school district who advised that Wendy Taylor, who is also a teacher at Moniteau School District, ran the program, and said they would collect the checks and forms from the students and give them to Taylor.
The complaint notes the forms for the program state that a $72 fee is to be charged for participants and explains that the fee is for gym rental, insurance, jerseys, shorts, and a ball.
Taylor was interviewed on September 11. According to the complaint, Tayler noted she has been in charge of the program for the last four years and she is the individual who makes deposits and purchases from the account. She explained the money is for shorts, jerseys, basketballs, gym rental, and insurance which is carried through the season of February through November. Taylor explained the account is not used for anything else, there are no vehicle expenses or cell phone expenses, or other items to be purchased with the account. She also agreed to bring in her bank statements for the previous calendar year, but the complain notes she never did so.
On September 22, Trooper Knirnschild contacted the Clarion Walmart to obtain a copy of the receipt and images for the debit card for purchases at the store on August 25, 2019, that posted to the account on August 26, in the amount of $186.45. A photo of Taylor was obtained from loss prevention corresponding to the purchase, and the receipt showed that the items purchased were all grocery related items such as body wash, shaving cream, snack cakes, and chips, the complaint indicates.
According to the complaint, a further review of the bank statement made it clear that several purchases were made during the season for purchases other than what Taylor described as the intent of the account. These purchases include $64.63 at the Dollar General on August 15, an ATM withdrawal of $60.00 on August 19, an ATM withdrawal of $22.50 on August 23, $13.71 at Dunkin on August 26, $25.41 at Staples on August 26, and a $300.60 bill payment to AT&T on August 27, totaling $673.30 in debits on the August 2019 bank statement.
Taylor was arraigned at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, September 23.
Unable to post $10,000.00, she was lodged in the Butler County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, with Magisterial District Judge Lewis E. Stoughton presiding.
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