Ithaca, N.Y. — An Ithaca schools union president was convicted on felony charges of third degree larceny on Thursday, according to officials with the Tompkins County Courthouse.
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Laureen Hamilton, 52, was accused of using thousands of dollars in funds from the Ithaca City School District’s Educational Support Professionals union for personal use. Third degree larceny is for thefts over $3,000 and less than $50,000.
Defense attorney James Hickey said in his closing argument Hamilton had made a few small, honest mistakes but could not be convicted for making expenses when there were no rules governing those expenses.
But Tompkins County Assistant District Attorney Dan Johnson displayed an illustration of Hamilton’s “clearly” wrong expenses: $2,480 for ATM withdrawals; $1,898 for her home Internet bill; and $502 for her GEICO car insurance. (They add up to $4,880.)
“She admitted it was unauthorized,” Johnson said. “…She just kept spending and spending and spending.”
Read The Voice’s full coverage of the trial:
— Prosecution plays Ithaca police video in jury trial over school union president’s theft
— Attorneys make passionate closing arguments in Ithaca schools union case
— Ithaca schools union president takes the stand in grand larceny case