Local Woman Believed to Have Stolen $60K from Gulf Coast Sta

May
29, 2019

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint on May 20^th, 2019,
from Gulf Coast State College in reference to one of their senior cashiers.
After performing an audit, administrators believe the cashier, identified as
Emily Batson, had stolen more than $60,000 from the college.

Batson
was responsible for giving out weekly cash allotments to pay for food on the
weekends for athletes on scholarship. Each month she would calculate how much
cash she would need and request a withdrawal from the college for that amount.
Each athlete signed a receipt for the amount of cash she gave them each week.

If
a student quit school or did not maintain their scholarship, this would leave
extra money in the account. This remaining money was supposed to go back to the
college. Now investigators believe Batson kept that money.

In
April of 2019, Batson requested a withdrawal of $11,646.00. An administrator
realized that she had already requested that amount and asked Batson why she
had requested the exact same amount of cash again. Batson stated she had made a
mistake. Shortly after that, she filled out a deposit for $11,646.00 plus what
cash she had at that time in her drawer to be returned to the college.

Now
concerned, administrators called for an audit and learned that more than
$60,000 was missing. It is believed Batson has been taking the money since
September of 2017.

Emily
Batson, age 30, of Pacesetter Road in Panama City, turned herself in to the Bay
County Jail on May 24, 2019. She has been charged with Larceny, more than
$20,000 but less than $100,000.

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Prepared
by R. Corley

Information
by Cpl. D. Rozier

Approved
by Chief J. Heape