SENTENCING Former Sharon High band director, teacher gets probation

She took money from the boosters' account and put it into her own.
MERCER, Pa. -- A former band director and music teacher at Sharon High School was placed on two years' probation Thursday in Mercer County Common Pleas Court for stealing $3,600 from the band boosters' organization money.
Judge John Reed sentenced Melissa Ward, 27, now of Waterford, Pa., to the term for misapplication of entrusted property and property of government or financial institutions, a misdemeanor.
According to court documents, in May, 2004, Ward wrote two checks drawn on the Sharon High School Band Boosters' account to herself and deposited them into her bank account. She was to have used the checks to pay expenses related to boosters' activities. Ward was band director and a music teacher at Sharon High School from 2003 to 2004.
Other cases
Several others were also sentenced. According to court documents:
William Casey, 44, address given as Mercer County Jail, was sentenced to six months to a year in jail for indecent assault and one to two months for corruption of minors, both misdemeanors. The terms will be followed by four years' probation. Casey engaged in deviate sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl at a Fairview Township residence on April 30 and May 1, 2004. He also allowed her to consume alcoholic beverages.
Schon Howard, 38, of Beaver Falls, was sentenced to 30 days in the Mercer County Jail followed by 36 months probation for forgery and criminal conspiracy/forgery, both misdemeanors. On Dec. 14, 2004, Howard conspired with another person to forge and cash a stolen payroll check for $476.
Jerome Kidd, 21, was placed on two years probation for simple assault, a misdemeanor. On Dec. 4, 2004, while under the influence of alcohol, he approached a man from behind and struck him in the head, knocking him unconscious, in the parking lot of a bar in Mercer. He also repeatedly punched another man in the head, causing him bleeding wounds.