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Former PTA President Accused of Stealing Funds

Harborfields PTA mom stole over $3,000, say police

Former Harborfields School District Special Education PTA President Sally Torres was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing $3,000 from the organization over a number of years, say Suffolk Police.

Following an investigation by Second Squad detectives, it was determined that Torres stole the funds while holding various positions in the volunteer organization between Jan. 1, 2007 and July 31, 2012. Her last position with the group was president.

Torres, 42, of Huntington, was charged with third degree grand larceny and will be arraigned Thursday afternoon at First District Court in Central Islip.

Lawrence February 7, 2013 at 06:24 pm
Ken. I couldn't agree with you more. Very often a person is arrested lets say for shoplifting. A person is arrested for stealing $15 worth if stuff. Two officers will respond and process the person and if it is at the end if tour the officers will get overtime so what you say us correct. But stealing is wrong $5 or $500000. It's still wrong. So if she stole 500000 would that make it better?
Kaos February 7, 2013 at 07:10 pm
Ken, who's to say it was only $50/ mth??? It could have been larger amounts at one time. They just didn't go in and arrest her, they did an investigation. Someone probably saw the irregularities and i would even bet she was contacted and was probably given the chance to make restitution first. Guess you wouldn't mind if I went into your bank account and took $50/ mth for a few years. Please be sure not to have me arrested when you finally find out. After all we would want to waste taxpayer dollars (which are being spent regardless). So in your opinion what amount has to be taken before the poilce are called in ???? Lets blame it on the PTA for not having a good checks and balances policy.
karl February 7, 2013 at 07:22 pm
Are you on medication? The police were called in on this matter, they are not patroling the PTA meetings. BTW: Last time I checked school taxes were 90% of the nut we pay every year.
Kaos February 7, 2013 at 07:50 pm
Yes Walter, the police were called in on this matter but it was done after the PTA found the discrepancies when they conducted an audit of their own books and probably. At some point after that they called the police. The police do not come in and conduct an audit on their own. I never said they patrol PTA meetings. Read it again. Are you on some sort of medication??????? Someone called the police in and pressed charges (signed the complaint). If someone from the school or PTA doesn't sign the complaint no arrest is made. But lets make it simple for you in regards to taxes. Those officers would be getting paid regardless of whether they made an arrest or not. Besides it would be a detective who made the arrest as an investigation had to take place. The woman stole money and she was arrested. No different then if she was a cashier at a store and took money out of the register. The bad part about it is she took money that was for the school kids.
Dad of Three February 7, 2013 at 09:54 pm
For Walter's education (he who posted "Last time I checked school taxes were 90% of the nut we pay every year."), no PTA receives taxpayer funds, so your comment is out of line on the taxes aspect.
The act of which she is accused, however, is deplorable. Moreover, Mr Wiebke's comments are absurd. He would have to define what laws relating to theft may be ignored by the SCPD and the DA, and what level merits attention. As to funds held and used by PTA's, the PTA is a 501-c-3 organization, and each unit raises funds from parents who become members (part of annual dues goes to State PTA, and part is retained at local level) as well as profits generated through various fundraisers and pure donations. Their 501-c-3 donations are then used for activities not funded by a school district, as long as it is in accord with National PTA guidelines. Therefore, if a person defrauds the PTA, they are taking away opportunities from school children.
Ron February 7, 2013 at 11:35 pm
Is she wrong-of course but what is worse- her or a district that accepts inferior workmanship and products on their 15 million dollar bond renovation of schools? Floors that are already breaking up,energy conservation upgrades that don't work,electrical upgrades that have failed and new roofs that leak worse than old ones..Awwww heck...taxpayers have plenty of money.
Allie's Grandpa February 8, 2013 at 02:47 am
Ron, why do you so casually dismiss the point at issue, and then go on and rant and rave about what the Harborfields School District does, or does not do?
Stick to the topic, friend, and you'll be taken more seriously. This is about theft, from PTA funds (and not taxpayer funds), by an individual not employed by that school district.
Michael Spearman February 8, 2013 at 03:40 am
You sound like an idiot. Iam sure this women is mortified. But, I can assure you her children still love her,probably a lot more then you ever loved your parents whom Iam sure we're pullers of the community. What ever happen to innocent until proven guilty.
liberal February 8, 2013 at 11:41 am
she probably took money for expenses, which i am sure were more than 50 a month for her work .BIG DEAL..............
Lisa Verber Kerr February 8, 2013 at 02:29 pm
I don't usually post comments to an article but this story is really disturbing and my thoughts keep wandering back to it. Why would this woman do this for roughly $500 per year and risk the chance of getting caught and disgracing her family in her children(s)' school district? Its not a lot of money so why take the risk? I don't know if she is innocent or guilty but if it is true stealing is a crime and she has to be punished. I just hope the punishment fits the severity of the crime. My gut is telling me she was short on cash for something and borrowed a few $20s intending to pay it back, then was short again a few more times and realized nobody noticed. Then it turned into a habit and added up so much she had to cover it up. I can't imagine she wanted to be Special Ed PTA president with the intent of stealing money from the organization. And now look, her life is a mess. What a shame. Good lesson for everyone - keep up your morals on all fronts no matter how small the transgression may seem.
Busy momma February 8, 2013 at 02:51 pm
Liberal are you kidding me????? Many of us donate our time to raise this money and no matter what the amount is It is STEALING FROM OUR CHILDREN!!!! During all these fundraiser are at least 15 moms and dads that busy their ass to get the job done if we all thought your way what money would be left!!!!???? V
Busy momma February 8, 2013 at 02:53 pm
@dambel the amounts that she stole is unknown... It. can be way over that amount but 3000.00 is what they KNOW ABOUT
Jim February 8, 2013 at 03:13 pm
Translation of Michael Spearman post:
You sound like an idiot. I'm sure this woman is mortified. But I can assure you her children still love her; probably a lot more then you ever loved your parents. Who, I'm sure, were pillars of the community. Wha ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? LEARN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND HOW TO WRITE IT PROPERLY, PEOPLE!
Jim February 8, 2013 at 03:17 pm
Kaos - I think what Ken was saying was that the amount taken over the time period only averaged $50 per month.
With that said, theft is theft and by stealing from the PTA, you're strealing from the children and opportunities they may not get due to lack of funds. The PTA should have a better set of policies and procedures in place to prevent this. I'd love to know what control procedures they have in place to prevent theft and fraud in the first place.
Jim February 8, 2013 at 03:20 pm
I agree 100% with Allie's Grandpa. And not only that, it wasn't the school district that called the police, it was the PTA.
It sounds Ron is a former Harborfields employee (perhaps custodial staff) that is bitter due to being terminated from his job? Probably from not doing his job and taking advantage of taxpayers as well and "stealing" money by working OT that he really didn't work, among other things.
Kaos February 8, 2013 at 04:53 pm
If she took the money for expenses then she's suppose to submit receipts for those expenses just like all the other PTA members do. If she did that then she wouldn't have a problem. If she felt she was paying for things out of pocket and wasn't getting rembursed properly and her expenses were being denied then she could leave thee position. It's VOLUNTARY !!!!!!!! I love the way people are saying innocent until proven guilty. There's not $5.00 or $10.00 missing, it's $3000 dollars and probably more!!!!! I'm sure she was questioned and if she could have given a reasonable explanation no arrest would have been made. The trail must have led directly to her. Your posting name says it all. Next time you need help do the police a favor and don't call them. Call a crack head instead.
BK13 February 8, 2013 at 05:52 pm
Maybe $3K is all they could pin on her? Maybe she just started her new 'career' in theft and her first (and last) attempt netted her $3K, etc. She had many job, only recently the Prez. Maybe someone is just being a jerk and has it in for her and is making some allegations? Or maybe she was just a real crappy bookkeeper and there's $3K missing. Either way, she's innocent until proven guilty, but I agree the numbers (or the lack of) are intriguing.
Paul Michael February 8, 2013 at 06:06 pm
You sound like a condescending Idiot Jim. Who cares if proper punctuation isn’t used by someone posting…
Pam Robinson (Editor) February 8, 2013 at 06:18 pm
Let's keep it civil, please.
beth February 8, 2013 at 06:22 pm
For your information, NYS Grand Larceny categories (charge was GL in 3rd degree):
Grand Larceny Charges - NY Penal Code Grand Larceny in the First (1st) Degree – 155.42 B Non Violent Felony over $100,000 Grand Larceny in the Second (2nd) Degree – 155.40 C Non Violent Felony Between $50,0001 and $100,000 Grand Larceny in the Third (3rd) Degree – 155.35 D Non-Violent Felony Between $3001 and $50,000 Grand Larceny in the Forth (4th) Degree – 155.30 E Felony Between $1001 and $3000
liberal February 8, 2013 at 07:22 pm
hey kaos give me your phone number,so next time i can call you
2 Turn Tables February 8, 2013 at 09:13 pm
What do you call the "retreat" the Huntington School Board went on? A retreat? How much did that cost? What do you accomplish on a retreat, that you couldn't accomplish in a conference room for a few hours? I found that outrageous. If the Board Members paid for that themselves, then I stand corrected.
Concerned Citizen February 8, 2013 at 11:35 pm
What does this story have to do with taxes or school boards, or school board members. I am not sure why I keep coming back to the PATCH because the level of stupidity on these posts are more than I could stand. Just because you can post, doesn't mean you should. Stick to the topic and if you cannot make an intelligent contribution, don't make one at all.
2 Turn Tables February 9, 2013 at 01:54 am
The correlation, Stupid Citizen is... accountability, efficient use of funds, and trust amongst those involved in the education of children. The correlation is, this woman absconded with $3K (no taxpayer funds) My question is, how much did the Huntington School Board spend on a "retreat?" What was the end result or benefit to the kids and/or tax payers of this retreat? Where was the retreat? Why have a retreat? Who paid for the retreat? Will the retreat reflect an improvement in the ranking of HUFSD schools? There is a fiduciary responsibility with tax dollars, and money entrusted to those in positions of power. Are they being used prudently? If you are too obtuse to see the correlation, don't advertise on here.
Dad of Three February 9, 2013 at 03:50 am
For 2 Turn Tables, you sure have a warped sense of propriety and pertinence.
This story deals with an individual who apparently defrauded her PTA; the PTA is not run by the school district, nor does it have any taxpayer funds. The money comes from the membership dues, and from funds raised by volunteers. As was said above, the PTA is a 501-c-3 organization. By the way, her school district is Harborfields, and not Huntington. If you have questions about what the Huntington School District did with regard to the "board retreat" which you cited, then go to their next Board of Education meeting (you can check their website for the next date and time) and ask during their residents remarks (public participation) period. If you feel you don't have either the time, or the willingness, to do that, then send an E-mail to both their BOE and their Superintendent, and ask for an explanation. Stick to the topic, here, please, and take care of your other issues in a more appropriate manner if you really care about the answer to your question.
2 Turn Tables February 9, 2013 at 06:50 am
Dad of 3, no, tough darts. Yea, I am making the connection. Long Island house frow not using funds efficiently, violating the trust of her peers. . Mix and match the common denominator. If you want to play moderator, you start your own blog and be a jerk. I made a point, if you don't like, pass it over.
Dad of Three February 9, 2013 at 05:48 pm
For 2TT, being rational with you seems useless. Since you elected to turn it into a dumbing down contest, I'll let you wallow in bat guano by yourself.
You have some weird obsessions, and seem unable to engage in meaningful dialogue. And, since you didn't even address what I suggested, it seems you are also intellectually and physically lazy. No surprise there, pal. No wonder so many folks in Huntington seem ignorant. When people in any school district refuse to get involved, they simply compound whatever problems there may be, or that they may perceive based upon shoddy "information." Laziness breeds stupidity, and stupidity leads to worse conditions. I'm glad you don't live in my district.
Richard Hurtz March 26, 2013 at 01:45 pm
I must admit that I read the posts on PATCH because it gives me a chuckle to listen to all the crazy people that live in my community....on both sides of the argument...give John Q. Public a space to rant and the results can be hilarious..keep up the good work all.
John T March 29, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Ron does make a good point, the promblems are is that we need better people to get off their butts and volunteer for these jobs in the PTA. The whole idea is to get an honest hard working person, what has changed is the economy and desperate people do desperate things. People have lost 401K money and a portion of the value of their homes. No relief in site, higher and higher gas prices. This women did some horrible things but she is only a human with faults.
John T March 29, 2013 at 12:38 pm
I bet you that there is more money missing than they say, there always is

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