By Sharon Turco
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A Price Hill couple is accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from their children's school.

A Hamilton County grand jury indicted Daniel and Joyce Bailey each on charges of theft and unauthorized use of property, accusing them of taking more than $27,000 from the St. William School's parent teacher organization.

Daniel Bailey, 40, a CPA, was treasurer for the group.

Hamilton County prosecutors say between April 2001 and July 2002 Joyce Bailey, 39, wrote checks to herself from the organization's account. Her husband covered up the thefts, they said.

An arraignment in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court is scheduled for Friday.

The Baileys have returned $10,000 to the schkol, located on Sunset Avenue in Price Hill.

Reached at home, Joyce Bailey said she and her husband had no comment.

Students missed no activities because of the missing money, said the school's principal, Linda Westendorf.

"It has been a trying time, but our PTO has emerged stronger and more committed to our children," Westendorf said.

Money in the PTO account is raised by parents through the school's annual haunted house and other fund-raisers.

The theft was discovered earlier this year, prompting school officials to turn over financial records to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The diocese contacted the Cincinnati Police Department, Westendorf said.

E-mail sturco@enquirer.com