Former Lanikai school PTO head pleads no contest to theft, money laundering
A former president of Lanikai Elementary School’s parent-teacher organization pleaded no contest in state court Friday morning to stealing at least $20,000 from the support group.
Tonya Taylor, 43, pleaded no contest to first-degree theft and money laundering.
She faces a maximum 10-year prison term for each of the two charges at sentencing in June. She has informed the court, however, that she plans to ask for a deferral of her pleas to avoid conviction.
The state Attorney General says Taylor stole more than $50,000 over a four-year period from the Lanikai School Ohana, former known as the Lanikai Elementary Public Charter School PTSA, which the state wants her to pay back.
Taylor is disputing the amount of the theft.