A woman in Cayce, South Carolina has been arrested in connection with a scandal involving funds earmarked for an elementary school parent-teacher organization (PTO).
According to a news release from the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), 40-year-old Joy Ellen Knotts of Cayce has been charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent (with a value of more than $2,000 but less than $10,000).
A probable cause affidavit accompanying the warrant for her arrest alleged that from 2010 to 2016, Knotts “was entrusted with funds belonging to the Parent Teacher Organization” of Claude A. Taylor elementary school – where she worked at the time.
During that time, Knotts allegedly “converted PTO funds meant for the benefit of the children of the school for her own personal use.” Specifically, she “wrote unauthorized checks to reimburse herself and others for goods and services that were not delivered or performed,” according to the affidavit.
“Knotts also submitted fraudulent invoices for reimbursement to herself,” the affidavit noted.
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[/timed-content-server]Knotts was arrested this week by SLED agents at the conclusion of an investigation requested by the Lexington County school district two.
She was booked at the Lexington County, S.C. detention center.
Her case will be prosecuted by the office of S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson.
As with anyone accused of committing any crime, Knotts should be considered innocent until proven guilty by a jury of her peers (or until such time as she issues a pleading in connection with the case).
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