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The former president of a parent-teacher group at a Windward Oahu charter school pleaded not guilty in state court Monday to stealing more than $50,000 from the organization.
Tonya Taylor entered the plea to charges of theft and money laundering. She remains free without having to post bail until her trial, scheduled for January.
Her lawyer and the prosecutor say that Taylor, 43, is cooperating to resolve the case.
"We’re just going back and trying to see the accounting," said Victor Bakke, Taylor’s lawyer.
The state attorney general charged Taylor with stealing $50,574 from Lanikai School Ohana, formerly known as Lanikai Elementary Public Charter School PTSA, from May 30, 2007, to Feb. 28, 2011.
"During this period she had acted as the president of the organization, and therefore she had authority to withdraw money from the account," said Christopher Young, deputy state attorney general. "It wasn’t clear whether at all times she was president."
The money-laundering charge alleges that Taylor deposited Lanikai School Ohana checks into another bank account, then withdrew the money.
Taylor agreed to answer the charges listed in a criminal complaint rather than require a judge or grand jury to review the case for a probable-cause determination.
Young said others discovered money missing from the group’s account and contacted authorities.
