Hall: Missing money a 'misunderstanding'

Thu, Nov 19, 2009    to del.icio.us

Grand Haven school board member Brandon Hall denies taking money from a school fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society, calling the whole ordeal "a severe misunderstanding."

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After speaking with investigators on Nov. 12, the 20-year-old Hall said he was "floored" to find out that he was being charged and would have to appear in court the following week.

"When the facts come to light, I'm confident that the charges will be dropped," he said. "It's not me. It's not what happened."

Hall pleaded not guilty to a charge of larceny by conversion of more than $200 but less than $1,000 in Ottawa County 58th District Court in Grand Haven on Wednesday. The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

According to Lt. Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department, police were contacted by Grand Haven Area Public Schools the first week of November after they found money missing from the fundraiser, which was held Sept. 11 to Oct. 20.

Hall's name eventually surfaced as a suspect, police said, and the case was forwarded to the Ottawa County prosecutor's office. According to police, Hall took around $600 from the fund for his personal use.

But Hall says that isn't the case. While he declined to discuss specific details, there is money missing, he said, but he did not take it.

"I don't know how everything became so convoluted," he said.

Hall said he hopes the charge will be dropped at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 2. If it isn't dropped then, Hall said he is willing to go to trial to clear his name.

"I'll take it all the way to a jury," he said.

Hall said this morning he plans to continue serving on the school board despite the charge and to continue his campaign for the 89th District seat in the state House.

Hall, a Republican, announced his candidacy for the seat currently held by Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, in August. Although he hasn't officially announced it yet, Meekhof plans to run for a state Senate seat in 2010.

Hall is currently attending classes at Grand Rapids Community College, with plans to attend Grand Valley State University and double-major in political science and education. A 2007 graduate of Grand Haven High School, he was elected to the Grand Haven Board of Education in 2008 at the age of 18.

Clarification

In Wednesday's Tribune story about Hall being charged with larceny by conversion, GHAPS Board of Education President Caralee Nietering misspoke about the connection between money raised for the American Cancer Society and the alleged missing funds. Money that Hall is charged with taking is tied to the $15,000 check that school board members presented to the American Cancer Society in September, GHAPS Assistant Superintendent John Thatcher said.

"There were separate fundraisers on behalf of the of the American Cancer Society, and that $15,000 came from several pools of money," Thatcher said. "It is not from the (GHAPS) general fund."

Tribune Writer Kyle Moroney contributed to this story.