$165,000 stolen from PT preschool
McMURRAY – Peters Township police charged the former financial administrator of Noah’s Ark Preschool with theft and receiving stolen property after it was discovered nearly $165,000 was missing from the McMurray nonprofit’s accounts.
Leslie Monahan, 40, of 287 Franklin Drive, was the financial administrator at Noah’s Ark from January 2012 until July 2016, according to the criminal complaint filed Wednesday with District Judge James Ellis.
An inspection of financial records done by the preschool’s new director and its founder discovered irregularities had occurred while Monahan was employed, Detective Evan Caruso of the Peters Township police said in the affidavit.
Monahan was arraigned Wednesday before Ellis, who released her on her own recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 20 before Ellis.
During her employment at Noah’s Ark, Monahan allegedly wrote 257 checks to cash or to herself and then either kept the money or deposited it into her personal bank account, the complaint said. Monahan also had access to a debit card associated with the Noah’s Ark Preschool bank account and made unauthorized transactions totalling $11,400, the complaint said. At the request of Noah’s Ark officials, Peters police became involved July 29.
Noah’s Ark is a ministry of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on Gateshead Drive and uses the church facilities.
Our Redeemer’s Senior Pastor Ann Schmid, current Noah’s Ark Director Heidi Garner, and Gerda Moul, the preschool’s founder and retired director, said in a joint letter to parishioners that the preschool has separate accounts from the church. Also, the actions of the congregation treasurer, financial secretary, council members, office administrators and tellers were not under investigation.
“It is our full expectation that the quality, program and staff of Noah’s Ark will not negatively impacted during or at the conclusion of this investigation,” the letter said.
Noah’s Ark will operate as usual and will credit anyone who has made tuition payments for the coming school year, regardless if it was for a month or full year, the letter said.