ELYRIA — The husband of a former Oberlin school board member, who is accused of stealing money meant for the district, has obtained a temporary domestic violence protection order against his wife.

Jones

Paula Jones, 46, is free on bond after being indicted last week on six counts of theft for allegedly stealing more than $22,000.

On Dec. 4, before she was charged, Jones threatened to kill herself with prescription medication and had written letters to her children to that effect, her husband, Thomas Jones, wrote in his request for the protection order filed Monday in Lorain County Domestic Relations Court.

He also wrote that his wife told him two days before threatening suicide that she had cheated on him.

“I feel she is in need of mental care,” Thomas Jones wrote.

The protection order bars Paula Jones from having contact with her husband and four of their five children — who range in age from 9 to 18 — or going to their Quarry Road home.

Her keys and a keyless remote control were turned over to sheriff’s deputy, according to court records.

A full hearing in which Paula Jones can contest the protection order is set for Dec. 23.

Paula Jones resigned in October from the school board citing personal reasons, but at the time Oberlin police were investigating what happened to $1,385 raised by Eastwood Elementary students through a Walk-A-Thon for Oberlin Community Services.

The money had been given to Jones, who served as treasurer of the Eastwood Parent Teacher Organization, to give to Oberlin Community Services, according to police.

After pulling bank records dating back to 2004, police noted that she had written out checks totaling more than $20,000 to “cash” from the PTO’s accounts, according to investigators.

Oberlin School Endowment Board members also have told authorities they believe Jones may have stolen $500 the board was due from a fundraiser.

Jones is free on bond, according to court records.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

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