Peters woman sentenced for embezzling $165k from preschool
A Peters Township woman was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to a preschool in the township as part of a sentence in a case stemming from allegations she stole a similar amount from the school while she was a financial administrator there.
Along with restitution to Noah’s Ark Preschool, Washington County Judge Michael Lucas on Aug. 31 sentenced Leslie Monahan, 41, of Franklin Drive, to 23 months of intermediate punishment – with the first nine months on house arrest – followed by 10 years of probation.
Noah’s Ark is a ministry of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and uses the church’s Gateshead Drive facilities.
During the hearing, Monahan apologized to the school and church and said she’d admitted “from the start of this” to committing a crime.
“I am truly sorry for my actions and the pain that I have caused,” Monahan, a mother of two, told the judge. “I ask that you consider a punishment that does not take me away from my family.”
Monahan pleaded guilty to felony charges of access device fraud and receiving stolen property earlier this year.
Monahan was financial administrator of the preschool from January 2012 until July 2016. Township police filed charges a year ago, saying she’d stolen almost $165,000, writing 257 checks out to “cash” and keeping the money or depositing it in her personal bank account. They also alleged she had made $11,400 in unauthorized transactions from a school bank account using a debit card to which she had access.
The school and church have separate bank accounts.
Lucas adopted the sentencing recommendation negotiated between Christopher Blackwell, Monahan’s attorney, and Assistant District Attorney John Friedmann.
Lucas noted the case involved the loss of an “extraordinary amount of money” by a charitable organization and said he would be reluctant to accept such a recommendation for the offenses without the consent of the victims and arresting officer.
“I don’t think it could be said any better than the judge did,” Blackwell said. “It was a great act of mercy and forgiveness for the church and the school to agree to this sentence.”
He said some of the amount police initially accused his client of taking went to cover legitimate expenses. As for the remainder, there was no indication in court precisely how the money was spent, but Monahan said she had undergone treatment for depression and addictive behavior, which Blackwell later said involved her making compulsive purchases.
Special conditions of the sentence include requirements Monahan pay the first $40,000 in restitution by Sept. 30, with monthly payments of $400 thereafter. After five years of probation, she will be eligible to ask the court to allow her to end the term of supervision early if she’s repaid the full amount.
Lucas also stipulated as part of the sentence she can’t hold a fiduciary position in any organization.
Noah’s Ark remains open with 120 children enrolled.
The Rev. Ann Schmid of Our Redeemer and others from the church and school attended the hearing but didn’t address the court before sentencing.
“We’re glad it’s been resolved,” Schmid said afterward. “We’re pleased with the resolution.”