CORNISH — The president of the Cornish Elementary School Parent Teacher Club has been charged with stealing about $3,000 from the group.
And until Tuesday, when she resigned, Deanna Lovell was also a member of the Maine School Administrative District 55 School Board.
Lovell, 40, of Parsonsfield, was indicted by a York County grand jury on the Class C felony theft charge earlier this month. An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but a finding that enough information exists to move forward with prosecution.
York County Chief Deputy Bill King said the sheriff’s office launched an investigation in December, after receiving reports that money was missing from the parent teacher club account. King said a review of the club’s bank records and other materials led to the charges.
Lovell, reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, offered no comment.
“I have been advised not to speak to anyone,” she said.
Lovell did say she planned to meet with an attorney today.
SAD 55 Board Vice Chairwoman Sue Melanson Wednesday night said the school board has been aware of the alleged incident since November.
“But she didn’t resign then, and there were no charges then,” said Melanson.
Melanson said Lovell resigned from the school board Tuesday. She said the school board had talked to its legal counsel about the situation.
Melanson said Lovell was in her second year of her first term on the school board. Parsonsfield selectmen are expected to appoint an individual to serve the remaining year of the term.
Conviction on a Class C felony carries a maximum prison term of five years. An arraignment date has not been set.
In 2011, an Acton woman was sentenced to perform 250 hours of community service after pleading guilty to stealing about $29,000 from the Acton Parent Teacher Group. As part of her sentence, Shannon Winchell was also ordered to pay restitution to the PTG.
SAD 55 includes Baldwin, Cornish, Hiram, Parsonsfield and Porter.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].
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