Ex-booster treasurer gets ARD for theft
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WAYNESBURG – A Carmichaels woman accused of stealing more than $6,000 from the Carmichaels Junior-Senior High School cheer booster organization was entered in the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program Monday by Greene County Court.
Jennette Lewis, 50, of 242 S. Market St., charged with 15 felony counts of forgery and one felony count each of theft and receiving stolen property, was entered into the program for first-time offenders before Judge Farley Toothman.
Lewis was charged with stealing $6,361.18 from the booster organization between Aug. 26, 2010, and Oct. 4, 2011, while she served as the organization’s treasurer.
Those entered into the ARD program must serve a year of probation and pay all fines and costs. Those who successfully complete the program can petition the court to have their criminal record expunged. Lewis had already repaid the organization.
According to Cumberland Township police, the president of the organization contacted police Oct. 4 to report more than $7,000 of the group’s funds had been misappropriated by Lewis.
Search warrants were served on Community Bank in Carmichaels, where 19 checks were retrieved.
Police said Lewis used the organization’s checks to obtain cash, to deposit in her own account and to make personal purchases. In several instances, Lewis is alleged to have signed the names of two other booster members, Rebecca Mitchell and Traci Sokol, to the checks in question before signing them herself.
According to the police affidavit, Lewis also is accused of stealing money from various fundraising activities held by the cheer booster organization.
In another case before the court, John Allen Grable, 51, of 313 Third St., Mather, was sentenced to five years in the county intermediate punishment program for a second offense of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Grable was arrested April 28 and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.246 percent.
Under the program, Grable must serve 30 days in jail, and he was permitted to serve the time on weekends. He also must serve 180 days of house arrest and was granted work release privileges and 53 months of probation. Grable also was fined $1,525.