Only repeating what the police told me, what the D.A. told me, what the school district comptroller told me. I'm pretty sure, at least in Arizona, that the information I gave is correct.

Originally posted by TheMetzyMom:
But the bottom line is that if you know of a crime and do not report it, you are covering it up. That is a felony. How is your family going to feel when you are arrested?

Not a lawyer, but I don't think this is true. Let's be careful with statements like that.

Tim

I agree with Tim on this one. The police are the professionals that should be dealing with this.

But the bigger picture in my eyes is that the original poster mentioned that the person accused is also a member of the school board. Why would the Super want to keep this quiet? School board members are elected officials pressed with the fiduciary respnsabilities for the entire district. How would you trust district spending, with him/her on the school board? There is a district in Long Islang where the former super and the (now former) school board president have been arrested and charged with the embezzlement of millions of dollars from the district that was, at first, covered up by the rest of the school board so as not to get bad publicity. The backlash being recently felt by the taxpayers voting down the district budget twice. That being said, PTA/O board members are also elected officials in a public organization and covering up such a crime could be construed as official misconduct. Best to report to the police and they can advise wether or not to pursue charges.

Another fact to consider is the "it's a small town, don't wan't it to get out, don't want it to ruin someone's life, we'll keep it quiet" frame of mind. As us "small-towners" know, there is no such thing as a secret in our worlds. Word gets out and trust is lost. Better to go to the police and get the facts out to the public, so as not to tarnish the entire group.

I guess some of us are going to have to agree to disagree with this topic.

The Poster ran into problems because they did not speak to the Principal & Super before they went ahead and pressed charges. I couldn't in my wildest dreams imagine doing anything without consulting them first. After meeting with them I would follow whatever path they wanted me to. They only way I would fight them is if they wanted the whole thing swept under the carpet without restitution.

But the bottom line is that if you know of a crime and do not report it, you are covering it up. That is a felony. How is your family going to feel when you are arrested? Especially for not doing the legal, moral, and RIGHT thing?

That is a bit extreme in my book. Maybe it is because of the type of town I live in but that would not happen here. Besides what is the right thing to do is open to debate. I believe like Michelle B that it is important to protect the innocent child(ren). And yes, the parent was not looking out for their child when they commited the crime, in my book then that child needs all the protection they can get, becuase they certainly aren't going to get it from their parent.

Like in all things everyone is entitled to their own opinions and again, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one.

The gal who is currently under investigation for embezzling funds at our school admitted to between $8K - $10K. Records currently indicate somewhere closer to $30K+.

She was well liked and yes, everyone knows her. It made it all the more easy for her to steal because no one thought she would do it. Some folks, even when confronted with her confession, can't believe it.

This is a crime that is committed in the child's world.

All the more reason to turn her in. This is a crime that took thought. It took planning. It took lying. They know that no one will want to prosecute because of the repercussions. They've done their homework. They know it will hurt the school if it gets out. They know people will feel sorry for their child and not tell. At least our gal knew.

The police can handle setting restitution payments after they establish the amount stolen. You as a group can request that the name of the embezzler not be released, but I think that is part of the punishment. How does one tell their children that they have to pay for their choices and then not pay for them themselves? If a child stole lunch money from another child, they would end up in the principals office. In adult matters, the police is the principals office.

Where do you draw the line in what crimes against children to report? Well, she only punched her once. She only stole 10K. Even though the examples are extreme, the truth of the matter is this: The person(s) committed a crime. It was a crime against children. They deserve to have an arrest and a record. Look at it this way: Our gal wasn't the least bit concerned about how much slack her kids would get from this. She stole for 2 years and banked on the fact that everyone would feel sorry for her children and not make an issue out of it. She bet wrong.

Again I ask: What kind of answer will you give when parents find out (and they will) that it happened and you didn't go to the police?

I do agree that the school and the district should be kept in the loop. But the bottom line is that if you know of a crime and do not report it, you are covering it up. That is a felony. How is your family going to feel when you are arrested? Especially for not doing the legal, moral, and RIGHT thing?

Originally posted by Serendipity:


Can the charges be dropped? If so It may benefit you all and save you legal costs.

As an FYI, there's no legal costs for the group in reporting the crime. The group is the victim.

Tim