CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The founding and artistic director of the Appalachian Children’s Chorus says despite a devastating blow from embezzlement, they are working to survive.
“It’s been a very, very difficult year,” Selina Midkiff said during a Tuesday appearance on 580 Live on WCHS Radio with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones. “We received state funding and if it hadn’t been for that we couldn’t get past this.”
The chorus’ former administrative director, Jacqueline Portillo, 51, of Hurricane, was sentenced Monday to 1-10 years after after an earlier guilty plea to four counts of embezzlement. She took $97,000 from the coffers by falsifying records.
About $28,000 of the debt was run up by Portillo on a credit card and is still owed by the chorus. Court evidence reflected much of the money taken by Portillo was used for services for her dogs. The theft was discovered when Portillo was fired after officials said she was not a good administrator. That was well before they learned of the embezzlement, Midkiff said.
“It’s not just about the kids, it’s what we bring to this community,” said Midkiff. “We represent West Virginia all over the world and we do so in wonderful way.”
Midkiff said despite the difficult circumstances the community is coming to the rescue.
“The community is coming forward with great grace and benevolence to us,” she said.
The chorus, according to Midkiff, is moving forward and putting the incident behind them with plans for upcoming projects and a bright future.
Portillo’s attorney sought probation and home confinement for his client but Kanawha County Circuit Judge Dan Greear sentenced her to prison time citing the seriousness of the crime.