Sep 16, 2013 2 min read

Editor’s note: The criminal charges in the below-referenced case have been dismissed and the associated criminal record expunged by a Washington County court order issued June 7, 2017.

The former treasurer for a parent-faculty organization at an elementary school in Canon-McMillan School District could have the severity of the charges against her reduced if she pays back the more than $4,000 she is accused of stealing.

April John, 38, of 306 Cricketwood Court, North Strabane, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge Jay Weller on felony charges of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, theft and receiving stolen property.

She allegedly stole $4,311 from the Borland Manor Parent-Faculty Organization earlier this year.

North Strabane Township police Detective John Wybranowski said the charges could be reduced to misdemeanors if John pays back the money in full before her scheduled appearance in November before Common Pleas Judge Edward Borkowski.

She also would be admitted to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program at that time.

“The agreement was part of a tentative plea offer,” Wybranowski explained. “She accepted it, and it will be executed before Judge Borkowski.

“Our goal in this was to make organization whole again after the loss,” he added. “This plea will do that.”

A co-president for the organization reported the theft to police in June. She discovered money was missing when checking the group’s bank account online in April after a book fair and noticing discrepancies.

Other shortages of cash also were discovered in transactions made between Jan. 1 and April 26.

An audit of the group’s accounts determined there was a $4,311 shortfall.