Teacher accused of stealing $7,600 from Purple Tornado fund
NORWICH – An investigation into thefts by the Norwich Police Department concluded Thursday with the arrest of a Norwich teacher for grand larceny in the third degree and forgery in the second degree––both class D felonies.
The Norwich Police arrested Rebecca L. Evans, 49, of Norwich after it was alleged she had stolen approximately $7,600 from the Norwich Purple Tornado Community Team, of which Evans was treasurer.
The PTCT is a parent-teacher group that works closely with the school district to raise funds for student events and programs.
The Norwich Police Department reported they were contacted by the Norwich Purple Tornado Community Team (PTCT), who believed their treasurer had stolen money from the organization and the thefts occurred between July 2016 and March 2018.
Tyler Brown, Purple Tornado Community Team President released a statement Friday on behalf of the group:
“We recently discovered inconsistencies in our financial records. We immediately froze all our accounts and removed access to them from our PTCT Treasurer Rebecca Evans. Upon working with NBT Bank and the Norwich City Police through our investigation we believe over $7000 has been utilized for personal use and suspect forgery has been committed. We are deeply disappointed by all that has transpired.”
Evans is an employee of the Norwich City School District. Information on the school’s website said she is a reading teacher at the Perry Browne Intermediate school. The school’s district office said Friday it was reviewing the incident.
Norwich Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan confirmed the district was taking steps to fire Evans from her teaching position. He claimed Evans had admitted to committing the acts in a meeting with school officials.
“She did admit to two felonies: to stealing money and forging the signature,” said the superintendent on Friday.
“She has indicated she will not resign, we are looking at everything within our power to have her removed.”
The grand larceny in the third degree charge alleges that Evans stole property and the value of that property exceeded three thousand dollars. In this case, it is alleged that Evans stole approximately $7,600 dollars from the Norwich PTCT.
The forgery in the second charge alleges that Evans, with intent to defraud another, falsely made, completed or altered a written instrument. In this case, it is alleged that Evans forged the name of another Norwich PTCT member on checks belonging to the Norwich PTCT.
On the school’s website the PTCT is described as, “a group of staff, parents, and community members committed to bettering the education of all students in the Norwich City School District. This 503C organization, formed in 2013, collaborates across grade levels to bring programming, scholarships, equipment, and activities to the families of the district.”
On behalf of the PTCT Brown stated, “Moving forward we have implemented policies and procedures to improve our internal controls. We will not allow this incident to deter us as we move forward in the best interest of our children and our schools as our main priority.”
Evans was arraigned Thursday evening before Norwich City Court Judge Michael Genute. She was released on her own recognizance and is set to reappear in Norwich City Court on Tuesday, March 27 at 9 a.m.
The Norwich Police arrested Rebecca L. Evans, 49, of Norwich after it was alleged she had stolen approximately $7,600 from the Norwich Purple Tornado Community Team, of which Evans was treasurer.
The PTCT is a parent-teacher group that works closely with the school district to raise funds for student events and programs.
The Norwich Police Department reported they were contacted by the Norwich Purple Tornado Community Team (PTCT), who believed their treasurer had stolen money from the organization and the thefts occurred between July 2016 and March 2018.
Tyler Brown, Purple Tornado Community Team President released a statement Friday on behalf of the group:
“We recently discovered inconsistencies in our financial records. We immediately froze all our accounts and removed access to them from our PTCT Treasurer Rebecca Evans. Upon working with NBT Bank and the Norwich City Police through our investigation we believe over $7000 has been utilized for personal use and suspect forgery has been committed. We are deeply disappointed by all that has transpired.”
Evans is an employee of the Norwich City School District. Information on the school’s website said she is a reading teacher at the Perry Browne Intermediate school. The school’s district office said Friday it was reviewing the incident.
Norwich Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan confirmed the district was taking steps to fire Evans from her teaching position. He claimed Evans had admitted to committing the acts in a meeting with school officials.
“She did admit to two felonies: to stealing money and forging the signature,” said the superintendent on Friday.
“She has indicated she will not resign, we are looking at everything within our power to have her removed.”
The grand larceny in the third degree charge alleges that Evans stole property and the value of that property exceeded three thousand dollars. In this case, it is alleged that Evans stole approximately $7,600 dollars from the Norwich PTCT.
The forgery in the second charge alleges that Evans, with intent to defraud another, falsely made, completed or altered a written instrument. In this case, it is alleged that Evans forged the name of another Norwich PTCT member on checks belonging to the Norwich PTCT.
On the school’s website the PTCT is described as, “a group of staff, parents, and community members committed to bettering the education of all students in the Norwich City School District. This 503C organization, formed in 2013, collaborates across grade levels to bring programming, scholarships, equipment, and activities to the families of the district.”
On behalf of the PTCT Brown stated, “Moving forward we have implemented policies and procedures to improve our internal controls. We will not allow this incident to deter us as we move forward in the best interest of our children and our schools as our main priority.”
Evans was arraigned Thursday evening before Norwich City Court Judge Michael Genute. She was released on her own recognizance and is set to reappear in Norwich City Court on Tuesday, March 27 at 9 a.m.
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