by | Published
The Hondo Police Department made an arrest on Friday, June 9, 2023, in connection with an ongoing investigation into the theft of funds from the Meyer Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Heather Lutz Martinez, a 33-year-old resident, was apprehended by authorities for outstanding warrants related to theft and misapplication of fiduciary property.
The charges against Martinez include theft of property between $30,000 and $150,000, a third-degree felony, and misapplication of fiduciary property within the same monetary range, also a third-degree felony. The arrest follows a meticulous investigation by the Hondo Police Department into reports of missing funds from the PTO.
According to detectives, Martinez had served as the PTO president from June 2021 to May 2023. During her tenure, it is alleged that she embezzled approximately $36,208.11 from the PTO's accounts. The illicit transactions occurred between June 21, 2022, and May 2, 2023.
As of now, no recovered funds have been reported. Justin Loza, Chief of Police at the Hondo Police Department, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and efforts are underway to determine the whereabouts of the misappropriated funds.
