Published: November 21, 2008 08:34 pm      

Former PTO members to face trial

Two former Foley Middle School Parent-Teacher Organization officers will go to trial after being indicted Thursday by a Madison grand jury. Both could spend up to five years in prison if convicted on the felony charge.

Oscar Combs, 43, who was president of the organization, and Michelle Couch, 35, who served as treasurer during the 2007-08 school year, have been charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of property, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

“Beginning on March 30, 2007, and continuing to May of 2008, the above-named defendants knowingly and unlawfully committed the offense of (the aforementioned charge) by obtaining property of the value of more than $300 from the Foley Middle School Parents Involved in Education Inc. organization, subject to an agreement to use the property for the benefit of the students and teachers at Foley Middle School and by intentionally dealing with the money as their own,” the indictment states.

Berea Police Sgt. Danny Brewer testified during a preliminary hearing in October that at least $19,658 appeared to have been misappropriated.

The money was raised mostly by students, who sold candy and other fundraising items, the investigator said.

Brewer said he was contacted by the PTO’s current treasurer in September and told “of discrepancies” in the organization’s accounts.

Brewer said the PTO had unpaid bills of $9,634, but only $3,722 in its checking account when the current school year began.

Brewer said he and the new treasurer then reviewed all checks written during Combs’ and Couch’s time in office.

The Berea Wal-Mart, where several checks were passed, cooperated with the investigation, Brewer said, providing electronic records. Other checks were written to the Dinner Bell Restaurant.

In his initial review, Brewer said he discovered several checks that appeared to be suspicious.

Four checks for $300 each were written for “cash.”

Combs and Couch, who were arrested Oct. 6, were released Oct. 8 from the Madison County Detention Center after each posted $3,000 cash bonds.

The two are scheduled for an arraignment at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in Madison Circuit Court.

The grand jury also indicted Isaiah Mundy, 27, of Richmond, on three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second offense or more.

The charge is a Class B felony, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

“ ... the above-named defendant committed the offense of trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree, second or greater offense, when he knowingly and unlawfully sold, transferred or distributed cocaine, a schedule two controlled substance narcotic to a confidential informant working for the Richmond Police Department and did so having been convicted of this offense at least once previously,” the indictment states.

Mundy is scheduled for an arraignment at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in Madison Circuit Court.

In other indictments:

• Titus Virts, 55, two counts of failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements. If convicted, he could serve up to five years in prison.

• Avery McCollum, 34, of Ellis Court, Richmond, first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree persistent felony offender.

If convicted, McCollum could serve up to 10 years in prison for first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, up to five years for tampering with physical evidence and an additional 20 years could be added to his total prison time for being a persistent felony offender.

As a part of the same indictment, Leroy Ballew, 45, of Lexington Road, Richmond, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second offense, and possession of marijuana.

If convicted, Ballew could serve up to 20 years for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second offense, and up to one year in jail for possession of marijuana.

• Jo Ann Isaacs, 42, Reed Hill, Berea, second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor; fraudulent use of a credit card; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; prescription drug not in original container; and third-degree possession of a controlled substance.

If convicted, Isaacs could serve up to five years in prison for second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and fraudulent use of a credit card; up to one year in jail for possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; and third-degree possession of a controlled substance.

• Christopher Stewart, 21, Battlefield Memorial Highway, Berea, third-degree burglary, cultivation of marijuana less than five plants, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, first offense, and second-degree possession of a controlled substance.

If convicted, Stewart could serve up to five years in prison for third-degree burglary, and up to one year in jail for each charge of cultivation of marijuana less than five plants, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, first offense.

As part of the same indictment, Stewart was indicted along with Jonathan Bullock, 23, for first-degree burglary. Bullock also was indicted for two counts of defacing a firearm and second-degree persistent felony offender.

If convicted on the first-degree burglary charge, Stewart and Bullock could serve up to 20 years in prison.

If convicted, Bullock could face up to one year in jail for two counts of defacing a firearm, and an extra 20 years could be added onto his total sentence for being a persistent felony offender.

• David Spires, 24, third-degree burglary. If convicted, Spires could serve up to five years in prison.

• Joseph P. Sydow, 22, Mt. Vernon Road, Berea, fraudulent use of a credit card. If convicted, Sydow could serve up to five years in prison.

• Christopher Crouch, 33, Charlie Norris Road, Richmond, theft by unlawful taking over $300 and second-degree persistent felony offender. If convicted, Crouch could serve up to five years for theft by unlawful taking over $300 and an extra 20 years could be added to his sentence for being a persistent felony offender.

• Faith Lamb, 29, theft by unlawful taking over $300, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted, Lamb could serve up to five years in prison for theft by unlawful taking over $300 and first-degree possession of a controlled substance, and up to one year in jail for possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Angela Stacy, 44, Waco, theft by unlawful taking over $300. If convicted, Stacy could serve up to five years in prison.

• Curtis N. Halcomb, 21, Hunter Lane, Richmond, possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense and first-degree promoting contraband. If convicted, Halcomb could serve up to five years imprisonment for both possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense and first-degree promoting contraband.

An indictment is a formal accusation and does not establish guilt.



Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.