The woman accused of taking more than $17,000 from an elementary school parent-teacher organization may resolve her case in the coming weeks.
In November 2024, Jennifer Jean Doxsee was arrested for felony Theft by Taking and Financial Transaction Card Fraud related to the Portal Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) account. She was booked into the Bulloch County Jail and released on $20,000 bond one day later.
PTO organizations are not school-sanctioned organizations and operate independently of the school system. In Portal Elementary’s case, the organization’s objective lists an effort to “foster relationships among the school, teachers, and parents & provide funds & resources that will maximize the education of every child and benefit the school.” In the past, the organization has helped coordinate field trips, organized special events, and filled the gaps for students and teachers in need.
At the time of the incident involving Doxsee, she was a fiduciary for the organization at Portal Elementary, meaning she had some financial authority to act, when approved, on behalf of the organization.
In April 2025, the case was formally accused by the District Attorney’s Office and Doxsee was charged with two counts of felony Theft by Taking and Financial Transaction Card Fraud with prosecutors alleging:
Theft by Taking – between August 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024, Doxsee took the property of Portal Elementary School PTO with a value of $5,000 or more.
- The accusation does not list an amount but warrants filed in November 2024 state Doxsee “knowingly transferred $14,294 from the Portal Elementary School PTO account to her own business PayPal account.”
Theft by Taking – between August 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024, Doxsee, as the fiduciary of Portal Elementary School PTO, unlawfully took the property of Portal Elementary School PTO with the intent to deprive the owner of the property.
- The accusation does not list an amount but warrants filed in November 2024 state Doxsee “knowingly transferred $3,380 from the Portal Elementary School PTO account to her own business PayPal account.”
Financial Transaction Card Fraud – November 19, 2024, Doxsee, with the intent to defraud St. Joseph’s/Candler Urgent Care, did unlawfully obtain services by presenting a debit card without the authorization of Portal Elementary School PTO, the cardholder.
- The accusation does not list an amount but warrants filed in November 2024 state Doxsee spent $30 at the establishment to pay for a sport’s physical.
Theft charges are tiered in Georgia and anything over $1,500 is a felony offense. If convicted of theft in an amount greater than $5,000, a person faces one to five years in prison. The penalty can rise to fifteen years when a person is a fiduciary or has a fiduciary obligation at the time of their offense. Fiduciaries are also subject to hefty fines, in addition to restitution, including fines of up to $100,000.
Doxsee, who is represented by defense attorney Scott Brannen, is scheduled for calendar call the second week of April with Judge Michael Muldrew. If the case is not resolved with a plea, it could be placed on the jury selection calendar for an upcoming jury trial.
