A Schuylkill County woman is accused of stealing more than $3,300 from a Blue Mountain Middle School parent-teacher organization while she served as its treasurer.
Lizbeth Sanchez, 39, of New Ringgold, faces felony theft and forgery charges following an investigation by Orwigsburg Police Dept.
The case was originally reported to Orwigsburg police on Dec. 9, 2024. The investigation ramped up earlier this year after representatives of the Blue Mountain School District Middle School PTO were asked to provide bank statements and correspondence involving Sanchez.
Police allege that between January 2023 and March 2024, Sanchez, who served as the PTO’s treasurer, made unauthorized withdrawals from the organization’s bank account totaling $3,379.76. During that period, police say, Sanchez was the only PTO member with access to make deposits and withdrawals from the account.
Investigators say the withdrawals included personal expenses, such as a car payment to Hyundai in Irvine, California, which Sanchez acknowledged to police and attempted to repay, though she failed to cover the full amount. Another withdrawal went toward an Amazon Prime Video payment, police said.
Bank records also showed numerous unexplained withdrawals and an altered check, according to police. Investigators say the check was written for $83.45 but altered to read $183.45. None of the transactions were authorized by the PTO, and they didn’t match the organization’s income records, police said.
Police allege Sanchez repeatedly lied to PTO members at monthly meetings about the account’s ending balances and gave false statements to conceal the unauthorized transactions.
Sanchez is charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, all third-degree felonies, along with forgery, a first-degree misdemeanor.
She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sept. 1before Magisterial District Judge Casimir Koscioleck.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...