Charges Are Dropped Against Ingrid Ely
Criminal charges have been dismissed against the wife of former community college trustee James T. (Tom) Ely after her conviction on charges that she stole school funds with her husband was overturned on appeal.
Ingrid Ely, 48, was not in court for the brief hearing Thursday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol J. Nelson said.
Ingrid Ely was convicted of conspiring with her husband to steal taxpayers’ money by double-billing the school district for trips taken by the couple. Tom Ely was also convicted of conspiracy, fraud and embezzlement.
Ingrid Ely’s conviction was overturned in December by an appellate court that ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove she knew her husband was billing the district for trips for which she had accepted money.
Superior Court Judge Lawrence Storch, who dismissed the charges against Ingrid Ely on orders from the appellate court, had earlier sentenced her to 480 hours of community service.
Tom Ely was sentenced to a year in jail, but his incarceration has been delayed while he recovers from cancer surgery to his face.
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