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Ex-PTO treasurer pleads guilty to theft
By Denise Dick
By DENISE DICK
YOUNGSTOWN
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Cheryl Blakeman
The former treasurer of the Springfield Local PTO has pleaded guilty to taking money from the organization during her term and plans to make restitution.
Cheryl Blakeman, 38, of Columbiana Road, New Springfield, pleaded guilty to theft Thursday before Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
“In exchange for the plea, the state agrees to recommend community control [probation],” said Carla Baldwin-Fields, an assistant county prosecutor.
Blakeman also has agreed to pay $15,000 in restitution to the PTO in payments, Baldwin-Fields said.
Judge Evans accepted the plea. The Adult Parole Authority will conduct a pre-sentence investigation before the judge imposes a sentence. He set 10 a.m. June 24 for sentencing.
The maximum sentence Blakeman could face is 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine, Judge Evans said.
Blakeman, who is represented by Atty. Miriam Ocasio, declined to comment after her plea.
Blakeman was elected PTO treasurer in 2004 and did not seek re-election in 2009.
She is accused of diverting money from the PTO account into her personal account between January 2007 and last October while she worked at Huntington Bank.
New Middletown police investigated the case and had estimated that Blakeman took between $10,000 and $20,000 from the organization.
Police have said that Blakeman was in debt and intended to repay the money. As the amount increased, however, she was unable to repay it.
The problem came to light when a new treasurer took office, noticed some discrepancies in the organization’s financial information and brought the matter to police.
Since the theft was discovered, the PTO has instituted additional internal controls including requiring signatures of both its president and treasurer on every check and withdrawal, officials have said.