A Westmoreland County woman is accused of using a Cople Elementary School PTA credit card to illegally withdraw $5,900 in cash from ATMs.
If indicted and convicted on seven felony charges, Karen M. Johnson, 44, of Kinsale, faces a lengthy prison sentence. She could also be ordered to repay the money to the school organization. Johnson was a PTA official.
According to Assistant Westmoreland Commonwealth's Attorney James Monroe, Johnson made seven cash withdrawals without authorization between December, 2006 and April 2007. Each withdrawal was for more than $200, Monroe said.
Johnson waived a preliminary hearing yesterday in Westmoreland General District Court. If indicted by a grand jury next month and convicted at a trial set for February, Johnson could be sentenced to between one and 20 years on each charge.
--Frank Delano