The past president of a parent-teacher organization (PTO) in Hunterdon County has admitted to making $14,500 of unauthorized charges on the group’s debit card, Raritan Township Police said Friday.
Nicole Sanchez, who PTO members told police was president of the PTO at J.P. Case Middle School in Flemington from 2020 to 2022, was questioned by detectives after other members noticed “irregularities” in the group’s bank account, police said.
Sanchez could not immediately be reached for comment. She didn’t reply to a message on Facebook Messenger and shortly after, her page was unavailable.
Police said board members reported that Sanchez “was previously the president and lone member of the board apart from an informal volunteer treasurer” when the transactions occurred and that she had access to the group’s bank account and debit card.
“After further investigation, it appeared as though Sanchez attempted to pay some of the money back with $2,300 paid back to the PTO,” police said. “Sanchez subsequently admitted to being the sole perpetrator of the unauthorized transactions. She advised that she intends to pay the money back.”
She was charged with “theft of immovable property” and “fraudulent use of a credit card,” police said.
She was served with a summons and released, police said.
Messages and emails left for J.P. Case principal Bob Castellano were not immediately returned, but Flemington-Raritan Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Kari McGann sent a letter to the school community about the theft, saying each of its six schools have their own independently-run PTO, which operate separately from the schools.
“While we are disheartened by the information that has been shared with us, we acknowledge and continue to be grateful for the extraordinary service of all members of our Parent-Teacher Organizations,” McGann wrote. “While the District can’t speak about allegations, we can speak up in support of the diligent and honorable work that our PTOs continue to achieve in support of our students and schools.”
An email to the PTO and a message left on the group’s Facebook page were not immediately returned.
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Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KPMueller.
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