A Cherry Creek elementary school’s past Parent-Teacher Organization treasurer was arrested on felony theft charges for allegedly embezzling almost $50,000 from the organization, district officials said Tuesday.
Heather Jean Williams, 42, is scheduled to appear in Arapahoe District Court on Sept. 27 for a pre-trial hearing on embezzlement charges. Authorities suspect that the Centennial resident pocketed funds raised between 2003 and 2005 when she was PTO treasurer for Willow Creek Elementary, 7855 South Willow Way in Centennial, according to an arrest affidavit.
The PTO board hosted about 20 parents at a special meeting Monday at the school to inform them about the case, said Cherry Creek Schools spokeswoman Tustin Amole.
“The thing that is most disturbing about this is the betrayal of trust these parents feel,” Amole said. “They entrusted a fellow parent with this responsibility and were betrayed.”
Williams was arrested Aug. 24 at her home and posted a $10,000 bond the next day, Sheriff Grayson Robinson said.
She could not be reached for comment. Her attorney, John Davis, said he would wait to speak about the case until he has reviewed all the evidence.
The arrest affidavit said the missing money came to light when a new treasurer took office. The new treasurer asked Williams for bank records but did not receive them.
A sheriff’s deputy looked into banking records and found numerous checks Williams had written to herself, to a mortgage company and a defunct company once co-owned by her for a total of $49,710.93, the affidavit says.
The PTO is an independent organization that raises funds for activities, books and materials for the 530 students at Willow Creek Elementary, a Colorado nominee to be a Blue Ribbon school for 2006, Amole said.
In response, the PTO board changed its bylaws so that two people will serve as treasurers, requiring two signatures to disburse money.
Treasurers will also provide monthly budget updates and a financial consultant will be hired to review records and tax returns, Amole said.
“With those things in place, it would be really, really difficult for this to happen again,” Amole said.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
