LYNDHURST, Ohio — The woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a fundraiser for a local principal dying of cancer waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Lyndhurst Municipal Court Monday afternoon.
40-year-old Stacie LaRiccia faces charges of theft by deception and additional prohibited activities, both third-degree felonies.
Police say LaRiccia organized a 5K fundraiser last October for Brush High School Principal Michael Fording, who was battling colon cancer at the time and passed away shortly after. LaRiccia was Fording’s administrative assistant.
According to a website for the fundraiser, the nearly $40,000 raised was supposed to be donated to colon cancer research and the Fording family.
Police arrested Lariccia on March 15 after financial records showed she spent most of the money on food and entertainment instead of donating the funds to University Hospitals, according to Lyndhurst police. One of Fording’s daughters tells 3News the family did receive a portion of the proceeds.
Fording’s wife, Missy, three of his four daughters, and other supporters were at Monday’s court hearing. They say they were alarmed when Magistrate Denisi Rini told LaRiccia that the incident is “just a little blip in your life, and you will get past it.”
“I was actually shocked. I think that Staci's actions were intentional,” Fording’s daughter Amanda tells 3News. “She knew exactly what she was doing. My dad had a lot of respect for her, and I think that he would be absolutely devastated and heartbroken that she did this to him.”
Judge Rini says she’s sorry if the family thinks her comments were inappropriate but says there’s a way people should expect to be treated in court.
“I just want everyone to know that when they come before the court, they should be treated with respect and understanding and the ability to know that this doesn’t have to be the end-all-be-all,” Rini says. “They can do better.”
LaRiccia pleaded not guilty to the charges although the judge said she wasn’t required to make a plea due to her case being bound over to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
The Fording family says the last few months have been difficult, but they’re thankful to have each other and the community's support.
“I hope justice is served,” Amanda Fording says. “That’s all we can hope for, and (we will) just continue to show support for my dad.”
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