Former Montgomery PTO president sentenced to probation for theft, child endangerment
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A former Montgomery Area PTO president has pleaded guilty to theft and other charges in relation to three separate cases she faced stemming across almost a year, in the classroom of Lycoming County President Judge Nancy Butts.
In December 2023, Elizabeth Jane Desantis, 44, of 80 Penn St., Montgomery, was arrested after it came to light that she had tampered with her juvenile daughter's prescription medication.
On at least two occasions during the week of Dec. 11, Desantis opened one capsule of the juvenile's medication, consumed the drug and then replaced the stolen drug with "an unknown white substance," an affidavit of probable cause said at the time.
It was further alleged that she attempted to force her daughter to take one of the re-filled capsules, but she refused, police said.
Desantis admitted to taking some of her daughter's pills and replacing them with her own medication, "hoping she would get away with it," police said.
Additionally, she admitted to taking some of the medication prescribed to her son, in all taking a total of 15 pills between the two children.
For the offenses, Desantis was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, as well as two counts each of tampering with prescribed medications and theft.
In July 2024, Desantis was again arrested, when she was accused of stealing money from the PTO from 2021 to early 2023.
Desantis admitted to stealing between $1,200 to $1,500 from the organization to make "little purchases," according to an affidavit.
Police, however, believe the amount stolen to be closer to $2,000.
In January 2023, Desantis' husband reported to the school that he suspected Desantis had stolen money from two 2022 fundraisers after he "found a box of cash," it was stated in the court document.
A school resource officer initially conducted a theft investigation, but it was turned over to state police in April of last year, when, through a review of bank records, "Paypal records" and other data that Desantis allegedly spent at least $2,000 of the PTO's money "for personal purchases," the affidavit stated.
She was subsequently charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
Just months later, Desantis was arrested on two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and two charges of recklessly endangering another person after she was again turned in by her husband for leaving their two children unsupervised as she consumed alcohol.
Arriving home just after 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 28, her husband found Desantis "highly intoxicated" while she was to be supervising their two children, both under the age of 12, a criminal complaint said. At one point, the children were left alone and unattended while swimming in the family pool.
An odor of alcohol on her breath, Desantis admitted to her husband that she had been drinking while the children were in her care because of her ongoing court proceedings, he told police, according to an affidavit.
Pending a preliminary hearing on the theft charges, Desantis was granted supervised bail on July 12, a condition of which prohibited her from any drug or alcohol usage. Her husband was unaware of how she acquired the alcohol, he told police.
Under the assumption that they were there for the bail violation, Desantis admitted to police that she was "busy drinking" a bottle of vodka instead of supervising the children, citing her ongoing legal issues as the cause, authorities said.
Last month, Desantis pleaded guilty to one count of theft by failure to make required deposits, and was ordered to serve five years probation, pay restitution and write an apology letter.
Back in court Wednesday, Desantis pleaded guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of reckless endangering of another person.
As part of a plea agreement with the Lycoming County District Attorney's Office, she was sentenced to five years probation on the former and 24 months for the latter.
All sentences will run concurrently, and should Desantis follow through with all terms of the agreement, she will be eligible for early release after four years.