July 22, 2019
The former president of the Raytown School Board, who stepped down in May, faces a criminal charge of stealing Raytown school district funds while she was on the school board, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
Kristie L. Colllins, dob: 2/16/1967, faces the Class D felony of Stealing.*
According to court records filed today, while she was president of the Raytown School Board, Kristie L. Collins used a purchasing card issued to her by the Raytown School District to make fraudulent purchases.
The school board commissioned an audit commissioned by an accouting firm after questions were raised by the school district’s finance office regarding transactions submitted by the defendant. The district purchasing policy states that under no circustances can the cards be used for unauthorized or personal purchases.
An accouting firm documented more than $4300 in fraudulent purchases.
In May 2019, the defendant was informed of the investigation. The next day she resigned. In her resignation letter, she wrote “I have made mistakes. I’ll be the first to acknowledge that, and I have tried to correct them when possible. Some I cannot correct, only apologize for and ask forgiveness.”
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded
