WOMAN SEEKS SPECIAL PROBATION IN KILLINGLY, CONNECTICUT SCHOOL EMBEZZLEMENT

The Dayville woman who police say pilfered more than $23,000 from an elementary school student activity account she managed has applied for a special probationary program that could leave her with a clean record. Facing the charge of first-degree larceny and the possibility of prison time if convicted, Cathy A. Flerra, 55, made an application with the court last month for accelerated rehabilitation.
Under terms of the program, which is reserved for first-time offenders, a person is placed on probation for up to two years. The charges are dismissed if the person completes the program successfully. There is no indication from prosecutors whether they will challenge the application or if Flerra has made any restitution. Defense attorney Paul Chinigo could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
Flerra was arrested in July after a check from the Killingly Central School Student Activity Account to a T-shirt vendor bounced because the account was overdrawn. The account is used for such things as PTO fundraisers, field trips, bake sales and support of local charities.
An audit of the account revealed Flerra had made unexplained withdrawals from the account totaling $23,271 over a four-year period. Flerra worked for the school for more than 20 years.
Flerra, in an interview with state police, explained she had hit hard financial times after a divorce in 2004. On the verge of losing her house and car, “I got very desperate and made very bad decisions,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit in the case.
Police said she admitted taking money from the fund, paying back money to the account when she could.
“As soon as I get another job, I have all intentions of paying back everything that I took from the fund. I made a terrible mistake and I never intended to hurt anyone,” she said.
Killingly School Superintendent William Silver said Wednesday he has had no contact with Flerra since she resigned, but that after paying a $1,000 deductible, the school recouped the remainder of the missing funds.
Stricter controls, such as requiring two signatures on bank transactions, were among measures taken after the theft, he said.
Flerra is due in appear Feb. 2 in Danielson Superior Court