Secretary Charged With Stealing Over $300K From Catholic School
BUTLER, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - A former school secretary and bookkeeper has been arraigned on charges she stole more than $250,000 from the school after allegedly telling investigators she got "carried away" spending tuition money on clothes and jewels.
Online court records show 43-year-old Lynn Tomlinson, of Valencia, faces a preliminary hearing March 27 on charges of theft and records tampering.
One of her primary duties at the Holy Sepulcher School as secretary was collection tuition checks from students and running the Script Fundraising Program.
Tomlinson said the Script Program served as an exchange of money from parents to the church for retail gift cards.
She was also supposed to keep a variety of gift cards on hand at the school. However, she admitted to using the tuition money to pay for the gift cards and would then keep the gift cards for herself.
Tomlinson said she would take Giant Eagle gift cards to purchase pre-paid Visa credit cards in order to buy various items and bills.
The criminal complaint said Tomlinson stole a total of $315,545 over four years.
The Rev. John Gizler, the pastor of the parish that runs the school, says, "While we most assuredly extend forgiveness, we all know that justice must be served as well."
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