Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Court Date is Set for School Forgery Case

Lisa Crow, who was charged with eight counts of forgery in connection with a series of checks on the Prescott School Lunch Fund, entered a plea of not guilty in circuit court last week.

Her trial date has been set for Oct. 23.

According to court documents, Crow, 35, was charged with forging checks written Nov. 11 through June 8, 1995. Each count is a class C felony carrying a sentence of three to 10 years in the State Department of Corrections and a fine of no more than $10,000 per count.

Records show five of the checks were cashed locally at the Nevada County Branch Bank of Delight, with the other three cashed at Hope's First National Bank.

The court documents show a stamp bearing the name of Prescott School Superintendent Don Johnston was used to endorse the checks, all of which were made payable to Crow.

A local bank discovered the forgeries in June. Once the forgeries were discovered, the Arkansas State Police were called in to investigate.

ASP investigator Jerry Reed talked with Crow on June 15, advising her of her rights under the federal Miranda Act.

According to records, Crow said it has been "a terrible year" for her, as she has been through a "horrible" divorce. The records state Crow informed Reed she had made a "stupid mistake."

She reportedly also told the investigator she had Johnston's permission to use the stamp, which bore his signature, in emergency situations.

Reed also interviewed Johnston on the matter. Records show Johnston stated the local bank discovered the forgeries and brought them to his attention. When the books were checked, Johnston found several checks which were suspected forgeries.

According to court documents, Johnston called Crow into his office, as she was in charge of the checkbook for the lunch fund. She allegedly admitted using the stamp on checks No. 4076, 4081, 4093, 4041 and 3998, with no authorization.

Reed also spoke with school secretary Dorothy Hacket concerning the forgeries. Records show Hacket informed the officer Crow had came to her office to borrow the stamp, which she gave to her because Crow had permission to use it.

However, Hacket said she did not watch to see if Crow used the stamp on more than one check. The stamp, Hacket told Reed, is kept in a box in the vault, and the vault is open all day every day.

According to Johnston's statement to authorities, when the discrepancies were discovered, he placed a call to the State Auditing Department. The SAD sent auditors Jerry Spratt and David Terrell to check the books. The two found several checks, which they reportedly believed were forged.

The amount of the checks reportedly forged was $4,872.21.