Six days before she was scheduled to go to trial, Melanie Dawn Patterson, Joplin, pleaded guilty to stealing $1,500 from Joplin Project Graduation.
Judge Kevin Selby sentenced Patterson to five years in prison, then suspended the sentenced, placing her on probation for five years.
Conditions of the probation are that she repay the $1,500 at $200 a month, not use alcohol or enter any establishment where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises and not use any controlled substances unless prescribed by a doctor.
According to the probable cause statement, Patterson allegedly stole the money from the Project Graduation bank account through four 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.From the probable cause statement:
Melanie D. Patterson was the president of Joplin High School Project Graduation Inc. Class of 2023 and was issued a Debit Card (last #9478) through Southwest Missouri Bank.
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.
Melanie D. Patterson was the president of Joplin High School Project Graduation Inc. Class of 2023 and was issued a Debit Card (last #9478) through Southwest Missouri Bank.
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.
3 comments:
No Justice, this woman, Melanie Dawn Patterson - Should have spent time behind bars. By allowing her to go Free, because she is Woman or she smiled at Judge Kevin Selby - so he gave her Probation - this Undermines the Trust of all Individuals that Donate to Non-Profits - if those in Charge can just Steal the Proceeds or the Donations and do not have to worry about any type of Repercussions - What Message is that Sending to the Donors of Non-Profits. Why Donate - if those in Charge will just use it for Personal Gains, Gambling, Drugs, Alcohol, or Whatever. Another Miscarriage of Justice -
Stealing from children...no excuse...none, zero...
What's wild is she shared the story and tagged a person. A person that's embarrassed or shows regret doesn't go "look this article is about me stealing from a kids fundraiser" She even has the graduation photo of the child she stole from as her main picture. Memory of that time she got access to easy money? Woman will steal again in a heart beat if given a chance.
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