Story Archive

Bullies and Lunch Money — The Next Level

When a 9 year old student brought $2,100 of his parents’ money to Connerton Elementary School in Land O’Lakes, Fla., his teachers intervened. They counted out the money and put it in the principal’s office. The boy’s mother picked up the cash a few days later, but realized on the way back to her car that she only had $1,200. Her son’s teacher verified the $2,100 total, so she called the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Principal Edward Abernathy, 50, told deputies he had counted the money and verified the amount, then hid it inside a speaker on a shelf. According to the Sheriff’s office, the rest of Abernathy’s story changed several times, including saying that the student could have taken the $900. When the deputy pointed out it would be hard for a child to reach the six foot high shelf, Abernathy agreed it would be “a bit of a reach.” He was arrested on a charge of grand theft, and released on $2,000 bail. (MS/Tampa Bay Times) ...It should’ve been $2,100.