Cumming PTO ex-treasurer Jamie Garfield surrenders in theft case

A former treasurer at a Forsyth County elementary school was free on bond Tuesday after surrendering to authorities on a charge of stealing money from the school PTO, GA Daily News reports.

Jamie Garfield, 36, stole nearly $8,000 from the Cumming Elementary School parent-teacher organization during the 2009 and 2010 school years, according to the Cumming Police Department, which had issued a warrant for her arrest.

Police said thousands of dollars more have been reported missing.

Garfield tued herself in to the Forsyth County Detention Center on Monday and was released the same day on $13,521 bond, according to the Cumming Police Department and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. A court date has yet to be set in her case.

Last Aug. 5, PTO board members discovered that one of the group’s bank accounts was overdrawn and requested a criminal investigation. The thefts occurred over a 21-month period, police say.

Garfield was interviewed once during the investigation, but refused to be interviewed a second time earlier this year, police said.

Garfield is charged with theft by taking. If convicted, she could face imprisonment of no less than one year and no more than 15 years, a fine or both.