Franklin woman waives hearing in PTO case

By MARISSA DECHANT
Staff writer

A Franklin woman accused of embezzling more than $6,000 from the Central Elementary School PTO fund waived her preliminary hearing Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.

Charges against Cynthia DeLuca, 56, will now be bound over for further proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas.

A criminal complaint filed by Franklin police says DeLuca stole $6,348 in funds during the course of the 2016-17 school year.

She admitted during a police interview on Sept. 7 that she made withdrawals from the PTO account, took money from fundraisers and stole cash, the complaint said.

DeLuca had previously reported paying two bills for $1,700 and $1,100 each, but it was found the bills had not been paid, the complaint said. There was also a $784 school trip to the Barrow-Civic Theatre that the theater had paid for, the complaint said.

DeLuca is facing a felony count of theft by unlawful taking.

She remains free on $5,000 unsecured bail.