The former bookkeeper for a Brevard County high school was arrested Wednesday, accused of stealing about $120,000 from the school district.
- Patricia Coleman worked at Eau Gallie High School
- She's accused of embezzling $120,000 from various funds
- School district alerted in August; Coleman resigned in September
- Changes made to bookkeeping at school district
Patricia Marie Coleman, 50, of West Melbourne worked as a bookkeeper at Eau Gallie High School since 1993. She's accused of embezzling about $97,000 from Eau Gallie High and $23,000 from Cape Coast Conference athletics over two years. She's also accused of embezzling more than $50,000 from two rodeo associations.
The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said the investigation began in August 2016, when the All Florida Junior Rodeo Association reported concerns about Coleman, who served as the group's former treasurer.
Coleman resigned in September 2016.
Brevard Public Schools conducted an audit of the accounts and found irregularities.
Coleman is being held at Brevard County Jail on a more than $1 million bond.
Brevard Public Schools said changes will be made to help prevent embezzlement. Portions of school accounting will now be centralized at district headquarters in Viera, where deposits will be verified and checks will be cut. An armored car service will now pick up deposits at schools, and school accounts will now be centralized into one bank.