Ex-Kathleen Middle School Principal Arrested

LAKELAND, FL — A 46-year-old Lakeland woman faces more criminal charges after Polk County deputies looked into her alleged activities at Kathleen Middle School. Authorities announced the second recent arrest of Ginger Collins, the school’s former principal, on Friday.

According to the sheriff’s office, Collins was arrested at her home in north Lakeland in the early morning hours of July 21 after the agency’s investigation. She faces 60 counts of dealing in stolen property, 16 counts of passing forged or altered documents, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and other charges.

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Collins resigned from her post at Kathleen Middle School in June 2015. She was hired in July 2015 by the McKeel Academy to serve as assistant director of academics. She resigned from that job in September 2016 after school officials confronted her “about suspected fraud and theft” that totaled more than $100,000, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media. The confrontation kicked off a lengthy investigation that ultimately ended with Collins' arrest.

See also: $100K Stolen By Former McKeel Academy Administrator, Sheriff Says

Collins was charged in connection with the alleged thefts from the McKeel Academy on Jan. 10. The sheriff’s office’s investigation into the incidents at the McKeel Academy revealed an elaborate scheme to take money from the school, the agency reported at the time. Charges connected to that case included grand theft, fraud and money laundering, among others. The case is still working its way through the court system.

Further information about Collins' latest arrest is not yet available.

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Booking photo from Collins’ previous arrest courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office