Woman pleads guilty to theft of PTO money

Kiley Huddleston pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a theft of property charge for making more than $25,000 in fraudulent purchases from an Ashdown Parent Teacher Organization debit card, an official said.

Huddleston, 32, of Ashdown, will be sentenced May 21 in circuit court, said Bryan Chesshir, Ninth Judicial District prosecuting attorney.

Huddleston had been charged with theft of property for allegedly making $25,541 worth of fraudulent purchases, according to the arrest affidavit filed in the Little River County Circuit Court.

Between April 2017 and November 2017, the PTO officers reported the organization's debit card issued to Huddleston was used for the fraudulent charges, according to records.

Some PTO officers discovered the theft when the bank account balance was questioned by other officers of the PTO and wanted a review of the bank account balance.

The PTO officers contacted Ashdown Police Chief Boyd Kennemore who opened an investigation.

Huddleston was identified on a Nov. 1, 2017 video at Walmart receiving cash back from the PTO debit card and placing it into her bag.

On Nov. 2 of that year, Huddleston attempted to use the debit card again inside Walmart, according to the affidavit.

Circuit Court Judge Charles Yeargan set Huddleston's bail at $7,500 and she is currently free on bond.

Yeargan will also sentence Huddleston.

She is represented by Ashdown attorney Mickey Buchanan.

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