FORTVILLE — A McCordsville woman accused of pocketing more than $127,000 from an Indianapolis homeowners association was serving as treasurer for a local school’s parent-teacher organization at the same time.
Marcy Smitley, 39, who was arrested Friday, has been asked to step down from her post with the Fortville Elementary School PTO, school officials said.
School officials and PTO board members began an investiga-tion into Smitley’s involvement with the PTO last week after being alerted to the crimi-nal case against her by the Daily Reporter.
Smitley initially denied that she and the Marcy Smitley charged in Marion County were the same person, school officials said. They confirmed late Tuesday that the Smitley facing 21 felony charges and their PTO treasurer were the same.
Smitley’s charges were filed in Marion County and do not involve her work with the school, according to court documents. Still, school officials plan to conduct an audit of PTO records.
“As a precaution, we’ve asked that she step down while she deals with this personal matter,” said Mary Jo Adams, PTO president. “We will be going over PTO books to alleviate any concerns from our contributors.”
The charges stem from Smitley’s work supervising the Winslow Crossing apartment and condo complex on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Smitley owns MCS Management Group Inc., which was hired to manage the property and oversee the collection of dues for the homeowners association, bill vendors and schedule maintenance for the units.
Court documents show Smitley took more than $120,000 over the course of four years by writing and cashing as many as 70 checks without the permission or knowledge of the Winslow Crossing Homeowners Association.
The association board contacted police in May when discrepancies in their books came to light.
Fortville Elementary School Principal Heather Noesges said Smitley has been an involved parent who has always been eager to volunteer at school functions.
Noesges and Adams both said they were shocked to hear of the allegations against her.
Mt. Vernon Community Schools Superintendent Bill Riggs said that, because the PTO is a separate entity from the school corporation, the district won’t have a hand in any further investigating. Officials with the PTO will take matters from here.
“They collect and control their own funds,” he said. “We have offered to assist them with the investigation in any way they feel we can be helpful, but they will handle the situation.”
Smitley returns to court in Marion County for a hearing April 28.