Alabaster woman accused of pocketing playground money - CBS42.com

Birmingham, Ala. (WIAT) - A mother who made it her mission to raise money for a special needs school is now accused of keeping the money for herself. Roseanna Borelli of Alabaster is charged with theft by deception. Borelli operated a fundraising campaign called Playground Friends, which was created to raise money to build a special needs playground at the Linda Nolen Learning Center, where Borelli has a child who attends.

That playground was completed in 2010. However, Alabaster police say Borelli kept soliciting money. Police were tipped off in June, when a donor became concerned his donation never made it to the school. Police say Borelli collected more than $6,000, and a substantial number of unsuspecting victims.

"The best figure I can give you is scores. I don't think it's quite a hundred, but there are numerous people who donated in some way. May have been as little as $25, to as much a thousand of dollars," says Alabaster Deputy Chief Curtis Rigney.

Police say Borelli used the money to pay for online dating services, hotels, and restaurants. She was released from the Shelby County Jail Tuesday on $50,000 bond.