May 28, 2013 3 min read

CANONSBURG – The former treasurer for the South Central Elementary School PTA in Canon-McMillan School District was arraigned Tuesday on charges he allegedly stole more than $16,000 from the organization.

Brian L. Simon, 35, of 1211 Meadowbrook Drive, North Strabane Township, was arraigned by District Judge David Mark on charges of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and theft. He is accused of stealing $16,386.39 between Oct. 27 and April 18. Simon has repaid $16,000 to the organization. Canonsburg police Sgt. Al Coghill said the both the school district and PTA wanted to proceed with charges even though most of the money had been repaid.

Coghill met with Christina Hollandsworth, president of the PTA. She told Coghill Simon became treasurer last August and was responsible for all financial records including making deposits for money collected during charity events as well as dues. He also was required to provide a treasurer’s report to the membership.

Hollandsworth told Coghill she became suspicious when she was approached by another committee member told her that the $1,500 invoice for the spring book fair needed pair. When Hollandsworth called the PTA’s bank to get a balance, the bank employee would not give her a specific amount but indicated it was significantly less than the $28,000 that PTA officials believed was in the account.

When Hollandsworth called Simon April 15 to question why there was just $12,000 in the account, he told her that he had to pay out a lot of money for field trips and he assured her everything was fine.

Later that night, Hollandsworth called Simon and told him that she wanted the books because she was going to the bank to check the account. He reportedly told her that the books were at the office and promised to meet her the next morning, but he never showed up.

Simon called Hollandsworth April 18. When she asked him how he was doing, Simon told her “I feel like killing myself.” Simon went on to tell her that he felt horrible for what he had done and that he did not have malicious intent.

Simon went on to tell Hollandsworth that he had accumulated a lot of medical bills for his father and he was responsible for the payment. He told Hollandsworth the PTA money was just sitting there and he planned to repay the money when he got $16,000 for his father. He also told her that a friend was going to give him a $16,000 check.

Bank records indicate checks from fundraisers were deposited but there had not been any cash deposits since Oct. 27. He also was authorized by the PTA to send $75 in gift cards to a teacher, but the cards were never received.

Coghill said it will be up to the district attorney’s office to evaluate the relevance of the restitution being paid.

“But just because you pay restitution doesn’t mean you are off the hook,” Coghill said.

Mark released Simon on $10,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing will be held June 6 before Mark.