Leland cop fired, charged with embezzling from school booster club

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — A Leland police officer has been fired and charged with stealing from a high school athletic booster club.

According to a Leland Police Department news release, the department fired Patrol Cpl. Melissa Hinnant yesterday after learning she was a person of interest and subsequently charged for her involvement in an embezzlement case under investigation by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

According to warrants from the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Hinnant, 45, is accused of embezzling more than $1,300 from the South Brunswick High School Booster Club through the unauthorized use of a Lowe’s account. In all Hinnant, who was the booster club’s president, faces six felony counts.

“It is disappointing when allegations of this nature are leveled against an individual serving in an organization designed to support our public schools,” Brunswick County School spokeswoman Jessica Swencki said. “It is important for the public to know these organizations, while supporting the public schools, function independently from them. We are confident the legal system will resolve this matter.”

The Leland Police Department says it is currently coordinating with the Brunswick County District Attorney’s Office and that it appears no cases will be affected by what happened.

Hinnant started at LPD in January.