Ex-PTO officer in West Virginia pleads not guilty to embezzlement

An Elkview woman has pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and other crimes in connection with the theft of more than $13,000 from the Pinch Elementary School PTO. Sarah Elizabeth Harless, 33, was indicted by a Kanawha grand jury for embezzlement, taking the identity of another, forgery and uttering, credit card forgery, fraudulent schemes and obtaining by false pretenses. Kanawha Circuit Judge set an April 4 trial date for Harless. She is free on $1,000 bond.The criminal complaint filed in magistrate court said Harless, elected vice president of the support group, took over duties of the treasurer from Nov. 1 to mid-April when the money was discovered missing.According to police, Harless used the PTO money to make personal purchases and pay her personal utility bills.