Former Royal Heights Elementary PTO treasurer Katy Kelley waived her arraignment August 23 in Jasper County Circuit Court and pleaded not guilty to felony stealing and fraudulent use of a credit or debit device.
Joplin Police have been working with the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service, according to the probable cause statement.
Embezzlement charges were filed in June in Ottawa County against Kelley. She waived the reading of charges and pleaded not guilty June 23. She is free after posting $5,000 bond. The next hearing on the Oklahoma charge is September 27.
Five of Kelley's withdrawals were made through a United Missouri Bank ATM in Joplin, according to the probable cause statement.
The statement indicated Kelley also made $24,374.96 in deposits into the account, leaving a loss of $1,893.04.
From the probable cause statement:
According to statements, that incident was for a $200 withdrawal. Kelley was seen collecting cash from the ATM. Footage of Kelley making several deposits was also captured on surveillance cameras.
On the morning of June 7, 2023, Katy Kelley was seen operating the white Jeep Wrangler leaving her residence. A traffic stop was conducted by the Joplin Police Department and Kelley was asked to exit the vehicle due to a family member also being present. Kelley read her Miranda warning and agreed to speak with the officers.
When asked about the funds, Kelley stated, "Did I know that I was using money that wasn't mine with the idea of replacing it, yeah. Is that right? Absolutely not."
Kelley agreed to meet with investigators later that afternoon and was released from the traffic stop. Later that afternoon, an attorney representing Kelley informed the Joplin Police that he had encouraged her not to meet with them.
10 comments:
I feel bad for the kid of this woman. They will have to have this follow them through your their schooling. Maybe they will escape it when they go to middle school. It also makes it tougher for every other parent helping the PTO.
Can I get an Ooops?
Well well well... it did finally surface. Thank you Randy for being the first to report on this.
Casinos are a blight to the community. You never hear negative stories about casinos from local media because casinos are their cash cows when it comes to advertising.
Agree with 430, aside from the financial/emotional/ addiction ramifications of gambling, the amount of STD's propagated by the many "lounge lizards" looking for love by stalking these establishments keeps our health care professionals very busy administrating anti-viral medications and such.
Both These Women - Need to do Hard-Time - Royal Heights Elementary PTO treasurer Katy Kelley and Melanie Dawn Patterson was serving as Project Graduation president - For Theft from Non-Profits.
Here We Go Again - - Another Embezzlement from a Non-Profit - - When are these Non-Profits going to Wake Up and Follow a Few Rules for Maintaining Integrity and Honesty in these Non-Profits - -
Royal Heights Elementary PTO treasurer Katy Kelley - Should be Required to Re-Pay what she has Stolen and Serve Jail Time - to Send a Message that we are not going to Tolerate Crime in our Society - - The Judges, Prosecutors, and Jurors - Need to Stand Up and make these Criminals Pay for what they have Done - - Don't Feel Sorry for them or Give them a Slap on the Wrist - but make them Re-Pay what they have Stolen - and Give them Time in the Penitentiary.
They have Taken the Trust and Goodness that Society places into Non-Profits Away - and Tarnished the Non-Profit's Name.
This Crime went on for almost a Year - - If you are in a Non-Profit - You HAVE TO SETUP - Audits and Guidelines - Checks and Balances - for anyone that Handles the Money.
1. Never have just one Person on the Bank Accounts / Credit Cards /
2. Make sure that every month a Report is given with the Beginning and Ending Balances of your Bank Account and Detail Purchases and Other Expenses listed.
3. All purchases require valid receipts.
4. If you can afford to have a Third Party Auditor or Company to Produce / Audit these Monthly / Quarterly / Annual Reports - even better.
5. Never / Ever - have Just Family Members hold these Financial Positions -
6. If you can have them Bonded / Insured - against Theft, Misuse of Funds, Etc., - even better.
Be sure to Read the Article - Right Under this this one another Theft from a Local Non-Profit.
Melanie Dawn Patterson - is such an Unethical and Immoral Person - To Steal from a Non-Profit Organization - especially from the - Joplin High School Project Graduation -
She should be not only Held Liable for Re-Paying the Full Amount of the Money - but she should spend Time in Jail for Stealing and for Lying to the Police that the Credit Card was Stolen - when they already had her on Video from the ATM's - Withdrawing the Money - WHAT A CON ARTIST...
Please to the Judge, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office and any Jurors if they go to Trial - - DO NOT ALLOW THIS WOMAN TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS SITUATION - - - Let her Receive Justice for the Crime She Did!!! Most Non-Profits depend on the Honesty and Integrity of the People they Elect or Help Run these Organizations - - Melanie Dawn Patterson has taken away the Trust that People have in Non-Profits - because of her Actions - She Needs to Pay the Price for the taking Advantage of the Position she was Elected to Uphold and the Trust she has taken away from all the People that Volunteer and Give to Non-Profits.
Plus - I Hope if you are in or wanting to Start a Non-Profit - that you make sure you put into affect - Checks and Balances and Audits - -
1. Never have just one Person on the Bank Accounts / Credit Cards /
2. Make sure that every month a Report is given with the Beginning and Ending Balances of your Bank Account and Detail Purchases and Other Expenses listed.
3. All purchases require valid receipts.
4. If you can afford to have a Third Party Auditor or Company to Produce / Audit these Monthly / Quarterly / Annual Reports - even better.
5. Never / Ever - have Just Family Members hold these Financial Positions -
6. If you can have them Bonded / Insured - against Theft, Misuse of Funds, Etc., - even better.
Red man's revenge.
Completely agree with 720am. When is enough enough? Sorry you have a gambling addiction but its not our kids faults or staff. If they arent punished, they will con again, and who cares if she paid it back, she stole it to begin with. She prob conned that money out of someone else. I would love to know if she helped pay the attorney bills for her brothers divorce that he and his mistress are constantly taking his ex wife back to court for. I hope she can use this to finally get some justice for her and her son. Good riddance.
Restitution will be made and everything will be swept under the rug. I mean seriously it’s Jasper County Mo, home of spineless judges and prosecutors. This will waste our tax dollars for about a year and half to two years and it will be over just like I said.
Not to mention she has worked for numerous attorneys for over 20 years.
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