By Alex Davidson
Brenda Battaglia, 35, of 107-16 93rd St. admitted she took $5,638 from a parent-teacher association account meant to benefit students at PS 63, District Attorney Richard Brown said. At her hearing before State Supreme Court Judge Douglas Wong in Kew Gardens, the defendant presented authorities with a check for the exact amount she had stolen after pleading guilty to petit larceny.
“The defendant has admitted her guilt, acknowledged that she improperly used a PTA debit card to purchase, among other things, goods and services for her own personal benefit, waived her right to appeal and paid back every penny that she wrongfully took,” Brown said. “What she did was criminal and today's disposition helps to right that wrong.”
PS 63, also known as The Old South School, is an elementary school at 90-15 Sutter Ave.
Battaglia said she used the thousands of dollars to pay for meals, gasoline bills and personal beauty care that included hair, nail and tanning treatments at places such as Beach Bum Tanning, Angela's Nail and Hair Spa and Tudor Nail, the DA said. The defendant stole the funds using a debit card linked to the school's PTA account that was maintained at the Bank of New York branch at 95-25 101st Ave. in Ozone Park.
Her sentence consisted of paying restitution to the organization, according to the district attorney's office.
As president of the PTA from Sept. 6, 2002 to May 30, Battaglia withdrew the funds without the organization's permission, Brown said. The defendant first appeared in court two weeks ago when Wong scheduled the return court date for March 17.
Detectives from the 106th Precinct in Ozone Park conducted the investigation leading to Battaglia's arrest, the DA said.
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
