Trial date set for teacher accused of embezzlement in Pennsylvania

A court date of May 12 has been set in the case of Samantha Brown, 30, of Carlisle, the former West Perry High School music teacher accused of embezzling more than $3,000 from the Musical Booster Club.

The affidavit of probable cause, filed by the investigating officer, state police trooper Steven Strawser, stated that “Brown acknowledged taking monies from the account for personal use,” during a meeting between Strawser and Brown on Feb. 25.
Brown said she had fallen on tough financial times after her husband was out of work for an extended period of time. She began accessing monies from the West Perry Booster Club account to help make ends meet, and things got “out of control,” according to Strawser’s account recorded on the affidavit of probable cause.
Brown is charged with taking a total of $3,360 from the booster club.
Suspicion arose when she inquired about using the MAC card for the boosters’ account for out-of-country purchases while on a cruise vacation.
Another affidavit of probable cause was filed on March 3.
According to the documents, West Perry High School principal Christopher Rahn said Brown “presented a treasury activity slip and WP Musical Boosters Club account from the WPHS Chorus Activity Fund” on Jan. 20.
On Jan. 24, according to the affidavit, Brown “was given a check for $500 from the WP School District SR High Activity Fund. She deposited the check in the boosters’ account.”
Police allege Brown had been making unauthorized transactions since June 2010.
The affidavit stated Brown continued to make unauthorized withdrawals after making deposits.
At the time of the $500 deposit, the balance should have been around $3,000. The affidavit said that there was only $51.50 in the account.
Brown was denied access to the accounts on Feb. 15.
Superintendent of West Perry School District, Dr. Rhonda Brunner, said Brown resigned in March