A 1:30 p.m. June 26 preliminary hearing is scheduled in Newton County Circuit Court for former Joplin High School Project Graduation President Melanie Dawn Patterson, 42, Joplin, on felony stealing charges.
According to the probable cause statement, Patterson allegedly stole $1,400 from the Project Graduation bank account through withdrawals from the Southwest Missouri Bank ATM at 1102 E. 32nd Street.
The withdrawals were made on September 15, September 30, October 12 and October 13, 2022.
The treasurer for Joplin Project Graduation noticed suspicious activity on the account and upon going through bank records noticed five withdrawals that had not been approved by the organization. The withdrawals had been made with card #9478 at the ATM located at 1102 E 32nd St on the following dates for the following amounts:
1. 09-15-2022 for $150 at 1244 hours
2. 09-30-2022 for $150 at 1731 hours
3. 10-12-2022 for $500 at 1356 hours
4. 10-13-2022 for $300 at 1738 hours
5. 10-20-2022 for $300 at 1214 hours
Video obtained from the ATM confirmed that Melanie D. Patterson withdrew money on each occasion as she exited her vehicle registered to her, and she was the only one present during each transaction.
Patterson was contacted via phone and stated that the debit card in question was stolen a while back and she had nothing to do with the thefts and refused to speak with officers further on the matter.
12 comments:
Melanie D. Patterson - has a pattern of not Paying her Bills / Rent - as can be seen on Case Net. Then Melanie D. Patterson - Steals this Money and has to have KNOBLOCK, AUSTIN JOHN - Special Public Defender Appointed to Represent her - SO THE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION - SINCE SHE IS A DEADBEAT...
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD ANY NON PROFIT GIVE A CREDIT CARD TO A PERSON - WITH BAD CREDIT AND SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD PROBLEMS PAYING THEIR OWN BILLS - - NON PROFITS NEED TO FOLLOW BASIC ACCOUNTING GUIDELINES - FOR HANDLING THEIR FINACIAL SITUATIONS>
Also, Non Profits, need to use Strict Accounting Guidelines for anyone they allow access to Banking, Checking, Savings, Credit Card Accounts. Are the Individuals Bonded, do they Audit the Receipts, do they Audit the Banking Accounts at Least Once a Month and Produce Statements, are there at least 2-Individuals on all the Accounts - - so no one can just take money out, make sure that the 2-Parties are not related Husband / Wife - Etc.,
She was Caught withdrawing Money on the Banks Video and then Claiming - the Credit Card was Stolen - - WHAT AN IDIOT - I HOPE THEY THROUGH THE BOOK AT HER AND DO NOT GIVE HER A SLAP ON THE WRIST, BUT MAKE HER SERVE TIME...
When’s the treasurer of one of the Joplin elementary schools going to be held accountable for stealing money from the PTA? It seems as if that story either… 1.Hasn’t surfaced yet.
2. Is getting swept under the rug.
Please - - If you are aware of a Crime - "The Treasurer of Joplin Elementary School for Stealing Money" - - Who is it - What Elementary School - - Bring it Forward - - This is the Only Way - We Can Stop these Criminals and make anyone that Holds these Positions that John-Q-Public - will be Watching, Verifying, and Checking to make sure they are doing the Right Thing...
If we Hide the Truth - then we are NO better than the Criminals - - SPEAK UP AND OUT -
Katy Kelley
Maybe we can have Randy - - Check his sources and see if - Katy Kelley - The Treasurer of Joplin Elementary PTA - has been Relived of her Duties and if an Investigation has been initiated into any Missing Funds - -
If a Crime has been Committed the Police / Prosecuting Attorney's Office should have been immediately - Contacted - - If anyone or any Organization has knowledge of this Crime - The School, Police, and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office should have been Contacted.
I checked CaseNet and the only Case I saw was for a Katy D. Kelley and her Husband for a $5,962.27 Judgement in 03/24/2015 from Freeman Health Systems - If this is the correct Kelley, and possible this PTA Case - may be still under investigation and no information is available yet.
I do ask if someone has Further Knowledge of this PTA Case of Missing Funds - - to Please Speak Up and Out and Contact - the School, the Police, and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for Jasper County - - - If Money is Missing or Stolen - Remember this Money is for Your Children - - Do Not Allow - A Crime to be Covered Up or Buried - - Wrong is Wrong - and needs to be Dealt With - - -
She works for the court system and has for over 25 plus years, so unfortunately she has enough inside power to sweep it under the rug. The board has been contacted and the superintendent. What needs to happen so others demand it as well. It is a fact that she is not allowed on the school property due to this being caught on video. Here’s where it is confusing and ridiculous… royal heights is a “privately funded PTA” which means the school board doesn’t get involved.
If Katy D. Kelley - has Stolen Money from the PTA - - Their needs to be an Investigation - She needs to be either Proven Innocent or Guilty - and if Guilty - she needs to be Prosecuted to the Fullest Extent of the Law.
If the Board and/or Superintendent - has Not Contacted the Police or Prosecuting Attorneys Office to Investigate - then they are as Guilty as She is - - and needs to be called to task for not Obeying the Law and are Part of this - Theft and Fraud - -
I went to the Joplin School Website and to Royal Heights Website - - Where they Ask for the Kids to Report Violence or Anything Suspicious - so why are Parents Not Screaming - - To Investigate this Situation???
Maybe this should be Investigated by an outside Agency The Missouri Highway Patrol - -
Missouri State Highway Patrol, MIAC Division,
Courage2ReportMO
1510 East Elm Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: 866-362-6422
Toll Free: 1-866-748-7047
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW - - AND IF ANYONE TRIES TO IMPEDE AN INVESTIGATION - THEY SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AS AN ACCOMPLICE - - AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE TOO... DO NOT BE SILENT - SPEAK UP AND OUT...
This incident is all new… it’s gonna come out. I know many people fighting for it to!
Note to Mr. Randy Turner - - Randy since you are the Local News Leader in Joplin - - Maybe you can Help bring this Story to Light through your many Contacts.
This is an Important Story - - since Joplin has had such a past with Fraud and Corruption in the City Government and with The Joplin School Administration and Board - looking the other way when out and out Crimes are being committed.
Again, a Campaign of Calling The Joplin School Administration and Board, The Joplin Police Department, The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and the Missouri Highway Patrol - to find out where they are in this Investigation.
Paul Barr, partner of CJ Huff, wasn’t prosecuted for his misuse of tons of money. He over saw all the waste and never complained to anyone. Kept his job through it all. Joplin ISD wastes money and over pays the over staffed administrators. That’s why we are the lowest in test scores. Sad situation that continues day after day…
And to think you would consider Mike Landis again…
You may find more information on the Oklahoma court cases website for the Katy Kelley case.
Booster Clubs, PTO’s, Project Grad’s, are separate entities from a school. They have their own board, their own rules and regulations, their own appointed officers and their own bank accounts that are not in anyway tied to a school. Therefore, the school has no control over them nor can they get involved with any possible fraudulent activity. It’s not “turning a blind eye”. Legally, they can’t.
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