Hope Livingston, Former Sag Harbor PTA Vice President, Arraigned on Grand Larceny

Hope Livingston, 50, of Sag Harbor surrendered to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and was arraigned March 3 on a charge of third-degree grand larceny after prosecutors allege she used the Sag Harbor Elementary School PTA debit card and withdrew cash to take more than $10,000 from the PTA account.

Livingston appeared before Riverhead Town Justice Sean M. Walter in Riverhead Town Justice Court on March 3. Patch reported the DA’s office saying, “Walter ordered Livingston released without bail because her charge is considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail.” Newsday reported that Livingston pleaded not guilty at the arraignment and that she was represented by the Legal Aid Society.

Prosecutors allege Livingston had access to the PTA bank account as co-treasurer from July 2021 to June 2022 and as vice-president from July 2022 to June 2024, and used a PTA debit card for non-PTA purchases and multiple cash withdrawals. The DA’s office and multiple outlets list alleged purchases at Costco, Amazon, Target and Lululemon, as well as transactions at various Sag Harbor shops. The alleged misuse was discovered when new PTA board members took control of the PTA account during a turnover in September 2024, prompting the Public Corruption Squad review, prosecutors say.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney issued a statement saying, “The allegations in this case represent an egregious betrayal of the trust the residents of Sag Harbor placed in this defendant, and my office will continue to hold accountable those individuals who unlawfully enrich themselves at the public’s expense.” 27east credited the DA’s Public Corruption Squad with the investigation and named Deputy Sheriff Sergeant Matthew Matz as assisting.

Easthamptonstar reported Livingston is listed as a “general employee” of the Sag Harbor School District and that her 2023 earnings were about $25,000; that detail has not been confirmed by district officials. Attempts by Newsday, Patch and Easthamptonstar to reach Legal Aid, PTA leaders, Superintendent Jeff Nichols, elementary principal Matthew Malone and the school board attorney did not produce immediate comment. Patch and Easthamptonstar list a March 17 return date to court, while the New York Post listed March 7; court docket entries and the DA’s accusatory instrument will be necessary to establish the official return date and the precise total of alleged losses.