PTO president accused of taking more than $10K from Lexington County elementary school account

A Lexington woman is accused of making more than $10,000 in unauthorized purchases using a PTO account from a local elementary school.

Patricia Brock King, 31, has been charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent involving more than $10,000, Sheriff Jay Koon said in a news release Wednesday. King was booked at the Lexington County Detention Center early Wednesday and later released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, Koon said.

King is accused of using funds from the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) account and fundraising events at Saxe Gotha Elementary to pay her utility bills and other personal expenses between March 2014 and February 2015, Koon said. King served as PTO president.

The unauthorized purchases King allegedly made totaled $10,143 and included 15 cash withdrawals and eight payments for her personal utility bills, Koon said.

She also is accused of using funds from the PTO account to buy gasoline and items at clothing and department stores, Koon said.

This story was originally published June 17, 2015 at 1:37 PM.