Former Ernest Ward Middle Bookkeeper Sentenced For Grand Theft
October 23, 2025
A former Ernest Ward Middle School bookkeeper has been sentenced for embezzling over $50,000 in cash from the school and its student organizations.
Lindsey Dawn Kelley of McDavid, now age 42, was arrested in October 2024 charged with grand theft, scheme to defraud and false entry in books of business for the alleged thefts from Ernest Ward. The scheme to defraud and false entry in books of business charges were dismissed by prosecutors, according to court records.
On Wednesday, Kelley was convicted of grand theft and sentenced by Judge Amy Brodersen to 120 days in the county jail to be followed by five years probation. She was remanded into custody and booked into the Escambia County Jail.
She was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, undergo a mental health evaluation and follow through on any treatment recommendations, take an anti-theft course, complete a financial literacy course, and seek or maintain full-time employment or be a full time student.
She was also ordered to not handle money or finances for any business or organization, and pay $518 in court costs along with probation costs.
According to court records, Kelley paid $52,278.98 in restitution on September 2 as part of a plea deal. Under the plea arrangement, jail time was capped at a maximum of 180 days, and the school district made no objection to a sentence of probation only if restitution was made.
Ernest Ward Theft Allegations
According to investigators, Kelley stole cash collected by school organizations over a 13-month period.
She quit her bookkeeping job at the school in Walnut Hill before the first week of the 2024-2025 school year following her arrest on the unrelated credit card fraud and grand theft charges that have now been dropped.
That prompted Principal Tyvanna Boulanger to request the Escambia County School District complete an internal audit of the school’s bookkeeping and financial records.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Kelley collected $52,278.98 in cash from various organizations at Ernest Ward that was stolen between July 1, 2023, and August 30, 2024.
- Change Fund-$300
- FFA-$4,047.50
- Honor Society – $310
- Shop- $650
- Volleyball/basketball – $4,001.65
- Cheer – $28,192.34
- SGA/track – $850
- Football – $200
- Band – $1,840
- Library/yearbook/drama – $4,670.49
- Culinary-$865
- 6th grade- $1,786
- 8th grade – $2,756
- 7th grade- $1,810
“It should be noted that this amount does not reflect any money stolen from Earnest Ward Middle School prior to July 1, 2023,” the arrest report states.
The report states that in the school year before Kelley was hired as a bookkeeper at EWMS, the school deposited $82,475.24 in cash for school organizations. The report notes after Kelly was hired as school finance specialist in August 2020, cash deposits were as follow:
- 2019-2020 – $46,736.28 cash deposited
- 2020-2021 – $23,270.08 cash deposited
- 2021-2022 – $29,782.46 cash deposited
- 2022-2023 – $18,733.64 cash deposited
- 2023-2024 -No Cash Deposited
The school district told investigators that Kelley was audited in the 2022-2023 school year and the audit noted that Kelley had a “lack of organization led to several issues, the most severe of which was the inability to locate entire records for deposits and receipts.” Kelley has not been charged with any school related crime that occurred prior to July 1, 2023.
Kelley was interviewed by ECSO investigators on October 23, 2024.
“One at a time, we spoke with teachers/sponsors of the different school organizations who had given cash to Kelley during the previous school year for their organizations,” an investigator reported. “There was zero cash deposited to the school’s bank account during the 2023-2024 school year so all cash that was given to Kelley is now missing.”
“Immediately upon beginning the interview, Kelley stated that she took the money. Kelley did not know the amount of money that she had taken because she had taken it over time and did not keep track of it,” the ECSO report states. Deputies said the money was deposited in her credit union account or added to a GreenDot account.
“I advised Kelley of the amounts stolen from each team/organization and that the total amount stolen for the 2023-2024 school year adds up to $52,278.98,” the investigator wrote in his report. “While surprised, Kelley did not disagree with that amount and advised that if that was the amount that had been determined, then that was the amount that she had stolen. When asked about the balance statements for the teams/organizations, she admitted to editing them on an Adobe program so that they wouldn’t discover the low balances of the accounts. At the conclusion of the interview, Kelley advised that she was remorseful and would never do something like this again.”
In addition, school administration alleged that all documents, such as purchase orders, money collected forms, along with receiving invoices and documents, were missing.
- Change Fund-$300
- FFA-$4,047.50
- Honor Society – $310
- Shop- $650
- Volleyball/basketball – $4,001.65
- Cheer – $28,192.34
- SGA/track – $850
- Football – $200
- Band – $1,840
- Library/yearbook/drama – $4,670.49
- Culinary-$865
- 6th grade- $1,786
- 8th grade – $2,756
- 7th grade- $1,810
Charges Dropped In Unrelated Arrest
In an unrelated case, Kelley was charged with petit theft, grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card over $300, and fraudulent use of a credit card two or more times to obtain goods over $100 for the alleged fraudulent use of her uncle’s debit card while he was away at rehab. In July, the charges were dropped because the victim declined to prosecute, according to court documents.
Century Dollar General Manager Charged With Grand Theft
October 23, 2025
The manager of a Dollar General in Century has has been charged with stealing deposits totaling almost $8,000.
Dollar General Loss Prevention reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that store manager Casey Leigh Rice failed to turn in two days of deposits. Dollar General reported that deposits of $$5,514.13 and another for $2,485.65 for October 2 and October 4 were recovered from her purse, according to an arrest report. The Dollar General loss prevention employee told deputies that Rice has admitted to stealing the deposits in a written statement. The total amount allegedly stolen by Rice was $7,999.78.
Rice told deputies that she “has been struggling with money, because her car broke down”, the arrested report states. Her additional statements were redacted from the report.
Rice was charged with felony grand theft between $5,000 and $10,000. She was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
According to the ECSO report, Rice was manager of the Dollar General at 7731 North Century Boulevard, near Highway 4A
Farm Share Food Distribution Saturday In Century
October 23, 2025
Northwest Florida Community Outreach will hold their annual fall Farm Share food distribution on Saturday, October 25 in Century.
The food distribution will take place from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m., or while supplies last, at 150 East Pond Street. Recipients must be in line by 10 a.m.
File photo.
5-Year-Old Critically Injured After Being Hit By Pickup Truck
October 23, 2025
A 5-year-old boy was critically injured when he was struck by a pickup truck Wednesday night in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the incident occurred about 8:56 p.m. on West Michigan Avenue near Valley Escondido Drive. Troopers said the child was standing in the right lane when he was struck by a pickup truck driven by a 63-year-old Pensacola man.
The child was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
The driver of the pickup truck was not injured. FHP said he will not face charges.
Troopers did not say why the child was in the roadway.
Lipscomb Elementary Students Rock The 50th Day Of School
October 23, 2025
This week, students at Lipscomb Elementary School celebrated the 50th day of the school year by dressing up like it was the 1950s.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Rabies Vaccine Clinic To Be Held In Escambia County
October 23, 2025
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare and the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County will hold a free drive-through rabies vaccine clinic for dogs and cats Saturday, November 1.
The clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Escambia County Central Office Complex, at 3363 West Park Place.
This free event is open to Escambia County residents only, with valid photo identification required upon arrival. Free microchips for dogs and cats will also be available during the clinic, courtesy of Pensacola Humane Society. All dogs and cats must be secured in the vehicle to receive a rabies vaccine and a microchip. Vaccines and microchips are available while supplies last.
Escambia County residents are required to vaccinate any dogs and cats four months or older against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Rabies vaccines are required annually, and proof of vaccination is required to obtain a county animal license.
Cottage Hill Water Works: Boil Notice Hazzard Lane And 29 North Of Hazzard
October 22, 2025
UPDATE — THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE HAS BEEN LIFTED.
Cottage Hill Water Works has issued a boil water notice for Hazzard Lane and Highway 29 north of Hazzard Lane.
Scheduled system upgrades took place today in the area, resulting in a disruption of water service.
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water in the area that is used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is rescinded.
Woman Crashes SUV Into Utility Pole On Pine Forest Road Near Walnut Hill
October 22, 2025
A woman was not seriously injured when she crashed her SUV into a utility pole Tuesday afternoon near Walnut Hill.
The crash happened about 3:50 p.m. on Pine Forest Road about a half-mile north of Arthur Brown Road. The woman was northbound on Pine Forest when she ran her GMC Terrain off the roadway, for an unknown reason, and struck a utility pole.
The woman was evaluated on scene by Escambia County EMS and refused transport.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
The pole was almost snapped the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Council Takes First Step To Set Clear Direction For The Future
October 22, 2025
“We need to change what normal is, what we used to do.”
That’s how a Century council member John Bass explained his vision for a plan for a new Century.
Tuesday, the Century Town Council held a workshop to discuss goals and a clear direction for the town’s future.
Bass, who spearheaded the meeting, said he wants to put objective for the town on paper.
The council discussed everything from park bathrooms, to walking paths, to first aid training for employees to just generally cleaning up the town. Ultimately, they finished the meeting by deciding to continue the goal planning process with input from the community and business leaders and the Century Chamber of Commerce.
After meeting with the chamber, the council plans to hold a town hall meeting for citizen input on December 2 at 5:15 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
October 22, 2025
Ransom Middle School has named their Students of the Month for September. They are Emily Wears and Joshua Johnson, both seventh graders. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.