HAZARD – An employee of Roy G. Eversole Middle School in Hazard was charged with felony theft Tuesday after police say she confessed to stealing thousands of dollars from the school’s parent-teacher organization.
Authorities with the Hazard Police Department charged 43-year-old Vivian Pulliam, of Hazard, after they were notified of the alleged theft Tuesday morning, noted Deputy Chief Joe Engle. He added that officials at the district’s central office reported the missing money.
“They said they were missing money from the PTO account,” Engle said, noting that Pulliam later confessed.
Hazard Superintendent Sandra Johnson said the school’s principal noticed a discrepancy in the fund and informed central office, and that’s when Johnson contacted authorities.
“I immediately contacted the Hazard city police, and it is under investigation,” Johnson said. “Ms. Pulliam’s employment has been suspended.”
Major James East opened the investigation into the missing money on Tuesday, and after reviewing the fund’s records determined that $6,190 was missing. East said he traced the thefts back to October 15, 2011, and had found several more since that date.
Pulliam, a secretary at the school, was also the treasurer of the PTO account, and East said she was taking money in for the organization and then writing checks to herself. He added that the investigation is currently ongoing, and there could be additional charges at a later date.
Pulliam is currently facing one count of theft by unlawful taking over $500, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison. As of Tuesday evening, she was lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail in Hazard.
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