Second Woman Indicted in PTA Theft; Former PTA President Pleads Not Guilty

[Correction: When this article was originally posted, the treasurer's name was spelt incorrectly as Callie Crowler. The correct spelling is Callie Crowder.]

Another woman involved in stealing more than $100,000 from the PTA at  will be arraigned in Superior Court in Newark later this month. 

Callie Crowder, the former PTA treasurer of Mount Pleasant Elementary School, was indicted on July 11 for stealing $101,000 from the school's PTA funds. Crowder faces charges of second-degree conspiracy to commit theft and second-degree theft, according to Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for Essex Country Prosecutor’s Office. 

She will be arraigned in Newark on Aug. 24. 

Representing Crowder is Jason Foy, who said that Crowder will be pleading not guilty to all the charges. Although still familiarizing himself with the specifics of the case, Foy was confident of Crowder's innocence. 

"It would surprise me if the evidence bore out any intentional misappropriation on the part of Mrs. Crowder," said Foy.

The other woman facing charges in connection with this case pleaded not guilty to all charges last week in Superior Court in Newark. 

Deborah Sanchez, the former PTA president of Mount Pleasant Elementary School, is also accused of . 

Sanchez faces charges of second-degree theft and third-degree forgery for taking $101,000 in PTA money while serving as its president. She allegedly took the money between January 2008 and November 2010. 

Representing Sanchez is Vincent Nuzzi, who had little to say about the case on Tuesday. 

“Sanchez entered pleas of not guilty and we are looking forward to proceeding,” said Nuzzi.  

Sanchez will be back in court on October 11 before Judge Verna Leath in Newark.