A LaFollette couple is accused of stealing money from a school parent teacher organization that has since been dissolved.
Matthew and Heather Brooks face theft counts in Campbell County and also were investigated by the state Comptroller's Office.
According to the office, the Brookses took at least $8,286 from the LaFollette Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization. Heather Brooks had been the PTO president and her husband had been the PTO events coordinator.
Questions about the PTO account prompted schools officials to alert authorities.
An investigation showed the Brookses used the PTO's debit card to buy things like personal service for cell phones, meals, entertainment in Gatlinburg and games for Google Play, according to the Comptroller's Office.
Heather Brooks hid what they were doing from the PTO board, according to an investigation.
The couple admitted what they'd done, according to the Comptroller's Office. The PTO was dissolved in March.
Heather Brooks contacted WBIR on Friday to respond to the Comptroller's report.
She said she had children who attend the school and was concerned the report would prompt them to be bullied.
She also objected to the amount - $8,286 - reported by the state. Brooks wrote that "there has never been that much in the account, Never used it for entertainment."
She also wrote that "we have already been to court over it."
Comptroller's Office spokesman John Dunn responded Friday, "We stand by our report."
School groups such as PTOs can prove inviting targets for theft. The comptroller advises that more than one person should always be required to sign any organization check as a guard against theft.
