Centralia police reported the arrest of a 34-year-old woman who is believed to have embezzled more than $10,000 from a parent-teacher organization that she previously held the position of president to use for her benefit.
The suspect reportedly spent and misappropriated funds ted to the Oakview Elementary School parent-teacher organization. The woman was found to have been the group's president from November 2023 until December 2024. In that position, she had access to three separate bank accounts and a debit/credit card.
Embezzlement of Parent-Teacher Organization Funds
Law enforcement personnel launched an investigation into complaints of embezzlement on Jan. 28, 2025. An official news release noted that a forensic investigation found that the suspect made four transactions using the three bank accounts.
The woman reportedly used the funds she embezzled to pay $7,474.80 in rent and a late fee for her townhouse in Centralia. According to The Olympian, police also found that the suspect made several transactions through Amazon to buy items for her personal use.
The release added that the purchases of the personal items sometimes "co-mingled with what appear to be legitimate parent-teacher organization purchases." Following the woman's arrest, she was booked into the Lewis County Jail on more than a dozen felonies amid the investigation.
The news of the embezzlement was shared with members of the organization via a message sent by current president Shelby Penman. The message noted that they had discovered inappropriate use of the organization's funds, which resulted in a substantial loss of the organization's account.
Forged Signatures and Stolen Checks
Penman noted that the organization discovered forged signatures on documents and stolen checks on Tuesday that amounted to thousands of dollars. She added that after finding out about these illegal activities, they were in a state of panic, ABC10 reported.
The group regularly holds fundraisers throughout the year to pay for books, computers, field trips, and other expenses that are not covered by official school funding. Penman said that she has seen students take pennies from their pockets and donate them to the organization's coin drive.
The Centralia Police Department will keep the suspect, identified as Alejandra Roberts, in official custody throughout the ongoing investigation.
Officials said further investigation is underway to determine if the suspect made any additional unauthorized purchases using the parent-teacher organization's funds. They added that, as per The Chronicle, no information will be shared about the case for now.
