A Freemansburg woman who had control over booster club concession money for the two Bethlehem area high schools embezzled $39,000 from the bank account, police said today.
Deborah E. Davis, 52, of 606 Main St., was charged with failure to make the required disposition of funds, theft, receiving stolen property and misapplication of entrusted property.
Davis, a Liberty High School Booster Club representative, made 72 ATM withdrawals and 21 more bank withdrawals over a period of four months, and kept the money for herself, according to the police arrest affidavit.
Davis was one of four people authorized to control the Sovereign Bank account created Aug. 3, 2009, for the Freedom Patriot Club-Bethlehem Coop Concession, police said.
The Freedom and Liberty high school booster clubs created the combined concessions operation as part of a plan to maximize profitability of the stands at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, police said.
Davis had direct access to the operation's funds because the bank statements were sent to her, police said. It wasn't until Nov. 30, 2009, that Timothy J. Fisher, a Freedom Patriot Club member who had control of the official checkbook, noticed missing funds, police said.
Fisher tried to pay a Coca-Cola bill with a check for $9,403, but the check bounced, police said. He notified Liberty High School Principal Joann Durante, who had the concessions bank account frozen on Dec. 17.
Police finally saw evidence of Davis' withdrawals after they obtained a March 2 court order from Northampton County Judge Edward Smith allowing them to see the Freedom Patriot Club- Bethlehem Coop Concession records, according to the arrest affidavit.
From September through December 2009, $69,251 was deposited into the high school concessions account, and of that total, Davis took $39,491, police said.
Davis was arraigned today by District Judge James J. Narlesky, who sent her to Northampton County Prison under $40,000 bail.
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