The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO) announced the arrest of two women accused of embezzling funds from the Live Oak Junior High cheerleading program.
Sheriff Jason Ard provided a detailed account of the investigation: “Complaints were reported in 2023 and communicated to the Livingston Parish School System. These complaints focused on the collection of funds from parents and the misuse of those funds. A Legislative Auditor was called in, and the report, released in 2024, revealed the misappropriation of funds through the cheer program. Our Financial Crimes Division discovered that two individuals conspired to sell t-shirts purchased with school funds. The profit from these sales, totaling over $3,000, was not returned to the school cheer program. Additionally, a fraudulent reimbursement invoice was identified, resulting in further theft from the Live Oak Junior High Cheer Fund.”
In response, the Livingston Parish School System released a statement indicating that Kristen Goodwin has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Goodwin, who has worked for Live Oak Junior High since 2019, will be subject to all applicable district policies and procedures. Jessica Angelo is not employed by Livingston Parish Public Schools.
