Former Freeman school district fundraising president under investigation for theft

The former president and treasurer of the Freeman School District’s nonprofit fundraising group is under investigation for first-degree theft after allegedly stealing more than $6,000 from the group’s bank account.

According to Spokane County Superior Court documents, the former official with the Freeman School District’s Parent Teacher Student Group used the account to shop at a handful of department stores, including Nordstrom, Costco and American Eagle.

Unauthorized charges, paid by debit card and check on the PTSG account at Banner Bank, totaled $6,275.35.

The official is named in court documents but has not been formally charged with a crime.

However, the investigation revealed that Brooke Hames, another PTSG board member, suspected theft from the bank account. Hames provided Spokane County Sheriff’s detectives with various documents supporting the allegation, according to court documents.

On Aug. 13, Hames asked the official how much money the PTSG had in its group account. According to court documents, the official would not answer and wrote “245” on a sheet of paper.

The official then confirmed there was $245 in the account after Hames pressed for more information.

On Aug. 28, the official sent a cashier’s check to payee Freeman PTSG, according to court documents. Freeman Elementary School principal Lisa Phelan received the check that same day.

Phelan said that the official told her that the unauthorized purchases had been a mistake and that “something got tied” to her account.