La. (KPLC) – A former bookkeeper for Hamilton Christian Academy appeared in court Wednesday (May 13) for a hearing to determine how much money she owes the Lake Charles private school following a theft plea
Anna Theriot was originally accused of forging checks and stealing more than $25,000 from Hamilton Christian. The forgery charges have since been dropped. Theriot has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor theft under $1,000, but the court must still determine the restitution amount.
Wednesday’s hearing shaped up to be nearly a mini-trial, with both sides calling witnesses. The state argued Theriot owes the full forensic audit figure of roughly $25,000. Defense Attorney Todd Clemons countered that the actual amount is far less.
Cash checks, Amazon orders, and Target receipts were at the center of the case. A forensic auditor hired by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office found that Theriot regularly had items shipped to her home address during her time as bookkeeper, from 2020 through 2022.
Flagged purchases included more than $1,400 in colored pencils in a single Amazon order, a desk, surge protectors, cables, a cart, Southern University flags, gift bags, wristbands, and raffle tickets — all shipped to Theriot’s home. The defense argued that many of those items were clearly school-related.
Also flagged were women’s and children’s clothing, jewelry, beauty products, home goods, baby diapers and wipes, party games, and alcohol mixers. Theriot acknowledged that some personal purchases were made accidentally on the school’s card, though how much she agrees she spent on personal items was not discussed in court.
The forensic auditor, Sarah Werner of Langley Williams and Company, described the state of Hamilton Christian’s books during that period as “horrendous.” The auditor identified roughly $25,000 in alleged unauthorized charges.
Theriot took the stand in her own defense, claiming the purchases were for the school. She said she received zero training when finance duties were added to her existing role.
“It was kind of sink or swim and whatever the principal told me to do,” Theriot testified.
Theriot also addressed the cash checks she wrote for “seed money,” which is change used at the gate and concession stands during school sporting events. Theriot pointed to sports schedules to show that withdrawal dates lined up with game days, arguing the money was used as intended.
“Not a single penny” of the documented seed money went to her personally, she testified.
Prosecutor Jordan Sutterfield said, “If this wasn’t an intentional misappropriation, your Honor, then Miss Theriot should have reported it to the school.”
The state alleges Theriot wrote a total of $12,540 in cash checks, with around $11,000 of that being personally for her.
At one point, Clemons asked Theriot, “You don’t dispute that there were some personal items that were delivered to your house that were on the card?”
He added, “But you do dispute the figure that the state is trying to put on you?”
She responded, “Yes, sir.”
A recurring theme throughout the hearing was Hamilton Christian’s lack of written financial policies. The forensic auditor and the lead CPSO investigator both acknowledged that the school operated on verbal practices and was not provided with documented procedures.
Judge Sharon Darville Wilson, who serves as both a Third Circuit Court of Appeals judge and Hamilton Christian’s board president, said that the policies existed in the bylaws and board minutes, though those policies were not presented by the state.
Wilson also testified that Theriot had “total” access to the school’s funds and did not have permission to use them personally. However, Wilson also acknowledged the school’s own shortcomings.
“I would agree that we were not good supervisors,” Wilson said on the stand.
Wilson added that the case had been emotionally tough.
“We can’t overlook this. It was actually very painful because most of us had a deep affection for Anna,” Wilson said.
Judge Hoffoss heard closing arguments from both sides Wednesday afternoon before taking the matter under advisement. He is expected to issue a written ruling by 9 a.m. Monday (May 18).
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