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An Altoona woman faces felony charges after police say she stole thousands of dollars from the Hollidaysburg Catholic School. Former cafeteria manager Cari Ann Gibson, 48, of 423 Bell Ave. was arraigned Monday on felony theft by deception and receiving stolen property charges along with one count each of misdemeanor theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
Hollidaysburg Borough police contend that Gibson wrote out four checks in June, two to cash and two to herself, totaling $7,300, using the checking account of the school’s hot lunch program.
Police were notified of the alleged theft by officials from the school and the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese on July 14.
Gibson allegedly wrote a $1,300 check to herself on June 21 and another $1,000 check on June 27. On June 30, Gibson allegedly wrote another two checks, this time out to “cash,” for a total of $5,000.
Police said Gibson called the principal of the school on July 8 to say she “accidentally wrote the first two checks from the account totaling $2,300,” Hollidaysburg Borough Police Officer Allen Fochler noted in Gibson’s arrest papers. She was told to put the money back by the principal, who called Gibson again on July 12 to again say to return the money.
The principal then called her supervisor, who police said told the principal to check the account and file a police report. That was when the additional $5,000 in missing money was found, police added.
Police spoke with Gibson on July 21, and she said she sent the first two checks to a friend who was working outside the U.S. because his job site was robbed and he needed money. She sent the second two checks because she got a call from her friend who told her that on his way home, he got into a car crash at the airport and needed money.
Gibson told police she intended to repay the loan and showed police a picture from her cellphone of a $150,000 check her friend had in his possession that was written out to Gibson and the friend. She said when he returned, she would repay the money from that check.
The school was told of this, and the principal agreed to allow Gibson until Aug. 4 to repay.
Gibson was released Monday on a unsecured $75,000 bond after her arraignment by Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller. A preliminary hearing in Tyrone District Court is slated for Aug. 23.