A former Waianae public charter school clerk pleaded not guilty in Circuit Court on Thursday to felony charges that she stole $19,750 from the school.
Christine Atisanoe, 33, also requested to waive an indictment for her case. Circuit Judge Richard Perkins granted the request after explaining to Atisanoe that she would be giving up her right to have a grand jury decide whether there was probable cause.
Atisanoe’s case is scheduled for trial the week of Aug. 12.
The state alleges Atisanoe took money from charter school Ka Waihona o ka Naauao between January 2010 and March 2012. The school is a Hawaiian-focused charter school that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
"The whole case is complicated," Atisanoe said outside the courtroom. "The entire amount wasn’t taken by me. … I feel bad that it had to happen, but one person gotta take the fall, I guess."
She declined to elaborate, adding that she has a second- and eighth-grader who attend the school.
Atisanoe said she worked for the school as an office clerk for about four years before resigning in May 2012 to care for her grandmother.
The amount allegedly stolen makes the crime a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Prosecuting Deputy State Attorney General Christopher Young agreed to allowing Atisanoe to remain free until her trial.
Ka Waihona Principal Alvin Parker was not available at the school and did not respond to an email request for comment. The Department of Education and an official with the Hawaii Charter School Administrative Office declined comment.
Four other public school employees have been prosecuted for stealing school money since 2010. They are:
» Janel Echiberi, a former Lehua Elementary School secretary, who was sentenced in 2010 to community service for stealing more than $15,000 from Lehua Elementary. She paid back the money she stole.
» Denise Hayashi, a former Pearl Ridge Elementary School secretary, who was convicted in 2011 of stealing $69,000 from the school. Under a plea deal, she was sentenced that year to five years’ probation, was ordered to perform community service and was ordered to pay off a $10,000 fine and $10,695 in court costs and fees. She also paid back the money she stole.
» Warren Harada, a former Waipahu High School business manager, who was sentenced last year to 10 years in prison for theft and money laundering. He stole nearly $500,000 from the school over five years. He missed a court deadline to pay back the money he stole in order to get probation and a shorter jail term.
» Williamina Muranaka, a former Fern Elementary School secretary, who was sentenced last year to one year of jail time for stealing nearly $15,000 from the school.
