Mt. Pleasant woman gets up to nearly 2 years in jail for theft of $50K from band boosters

A Mt. Pleasant woman has been sentenced to serve time in the Indiana County Jail for stealing more than $50,000 from a high school band boosters group.

Lara Lee Brown, 57, pleaded guilty to the thefts, which state police said occurred from 2019 through 2022 while she was treasurer of the United Band Boosters and her daughter was a member of the band at United High School in East Wheatfield Township.

Brown used much of the stolen money to gamble and purchase personal products, police said.

An investigation began in December 2022 when it was discovered that large amounts of funds were being removed from the boosters account through ATM withdrawals and checks deposited into Brown’s personal account.

The money was supposed to be used for a spring 2023 band trip to Disney World. It had been raised over four years by students, families and communities, school district officials said in a statement.

Neighboring Penns Manor Area School District invited the United band to join its Disney band trip.

Still, many United students weren’t able to go. United School Board voted to reimburse them a combined $32,884, which the district received from its insurance carrier.

According to Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi, Brown’s jail sentence of six months to a day less than two years is twice the length of the standard range indicated in the case: three months to one year.

Victim statements from United band students and families were part of Brown’s sentencing hearing.

“Many spoke about a loss of trust, anxiety, stress and depression,” Manzi said.

Brown pleaded guilty to third-degree felony charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and receiving stolen property. As part of her sentence, she was ordered to make restitution to the United Band Boosters and to complete a mental health evaluation. She also will serve three years’ probation.

“Unfortunately, the United Band Boosters and the students learned that there are just people in this world that do not care who they affect with their actions and only care about themselves,” Manzi said in a news release. “During a time of great stress, the members of the boosters organization and the school were determined to find the truth and stand up for these great students.”