SAG HARBOR, NY — A former Sag Harbor Elementary School PTA vice-president and co-treasurer was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution after stealing more than $14,000 from the PTA, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.
Hope Livingston, 50, of Sag Harbor, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to third-degree grand larceny, Tierney said.
Livingston admitted to stealing the more-than $14,000 from the Sag Harbor Elementary School PTA while serving as co-treasurer and vice president, Tierney said.
According to court documents and the defendant's admissions during her guilty plea allocution, Livingston served as the Sag Harbor Elementary School PTA co-treasurer from July 2021 to June 2022, and vice-president from July 2022 through June 2024.
During that time, Livingston had access to the PTA's bank account through the use of a debit card, which was to be used solely for PTA-related purchases, the DA said.
In September 2024, when the bank account was turned over to new board members, it was discovered that Livingston had unlawfully used PTA funds for her own personal expenses, Tierney said.
The expenses included purchases from Costco, Amazon, Target, Lululemon and various local businesses throughout Sag Harbor, Tierney said.
On numerous occasions, Livingston also withdrew sums of cash directly from the PTA bank account, Tierney said.
On August 4, Livingston pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree grand larceny, a class D felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Tierney said.
On Tuesday, Livingston was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay $14,487 in restitution to the Sag Harbor Elementary School PTA, the DA said.
She was represented by Edward D. Burke, Jr. "My client fully accepted responsibility for her actions," Burke previously told Patch. "She must pay full restitution during the term of her probation and abide by all conditions and mandates imposed, demonstrating to not only the court, but the community, how deeply sorry she is for her actions."
"Restitution is an important part of accountability, particularly when the money stolen was entrusted to a parent teacher association to benefit students and the school community," Tierney said. "This sentence requires the defendant to repay what she took and serves as a reminder that those who steal from Suffolk communities will be held accountable."
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