Grand jury will get PTO case

Police said she diverted money from the PTO account to her personal bank account while she was a bank teller .

STAFF REPORT

STRUTHERS — The case of a former Springfield Local PTO treasurer accused of stealing from the organization will go to a grand jury.

Cheryl Blakeman, 37, of Columbiana Road, waived a preliminary hearing on Friday in Struthers Municipal Court. She appeared before Judge James R. Lanzo with her court-appointed attorney.

The felony-theft case now will be bound over to a Mahoning County grand jury for a determination on whether there’s enough evidence for an indictment, which could lead to a trial.

Blakeman is accused of taking between $10,000 and $20,000 from the PTO during her four years as treasurer. New Middletown police have said she was in debt.

Police have said that Blakeman diverted money from the PTO account to her personal bank account while she was a teller at Huntington Bank. As the amount increased, Blakeman became overwhelmed and was unable to repay it. She has been discharged from the bank for reasons unrelated to the charge, police said.

The case emerged when a new PTO treasurer reviewed the organization’s financial information and brought it to New Middletown police.

Blakeman was last in court on Dec. 1, when Judge Lanzo set her bond at $5,000, allowing her to post 10 percent, and found her indigent after she said she was unemployed.

Blakeman declined to comment after court.