A former college foundation head has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $25,000.
Dawn Cook, former head of the West Georgia Technical College Foundation, admitted to four counts of theft Thursday in Carroll County Superior Court, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
Cook funneled money from both the foundation and the college to herself through several local girls’ softball teams by claiming the foundation was buying advertising, the AG's office said. She also pocketed money from a fundraiser.
“The West Georgia Technical College Foundation entrusted Dawn Cook with the responsibility of leading and managing the organization, and she violated that trust by pilfering its coffers,” said Attorney General Sam Olens. “It is shameful that she used several high school softball teams as fronts for embezzling funds from the foundation.”
Judge John Simpson sentenced Cook under the First Offender Act to five years probation, $25,067 restitution and 200 hours community service. The sentence gives her the opportunity to erase the sentence from the official public record if she meets the terms of probation and the conviction will be voided so she does not have to list it for employment.
“The intent of the law is to give first time offenders a chance to learn from their mistake and move on with their lives without the burden of a conviction,” according to the Georgia Justice Project website.
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