A 9-year-old child went to school with more than $2000 in his possession and when his mom arrived to pick up the cash almost half of it was allegedly missing.
A mentally handicapped boy reportedly showed up for school for the day and he was allegedly holding $2100 in cash that he took from his parents.
After the teachers at the elementary school found out that the boy had the money they confiscated and counted it, and then allegedly secured it inside of the principal’s office until the child’s mother was able to come in and pick it up.
When the woman arrived she reported that she was handed $1200 of the alleged $2100 that her son had taken to the campus that day.
After an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, it was determined that the principal would be held legally responsible for the alleged missing money.
On Thursday, 50-year-old Edward John Abernathy, an employee working for the school district for a total of 26 years, was taken into custody and booked into the Land O’Lakes Detention Center on suspicion of grand theft.
Abernathy paid his ordered bond and was released later in the evening. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft crime, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.