Terri Jaggers Pleads Guilty To Stealing Thousands From Nonprofit

CONROE, TX — The former president of the Montgomery County Child Welfare Board and Orphan Care Solutions pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing thousands of dollars that she used to pay for trips, jewelry, and other expenses, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

Terri Jaggers, who founded Orphan Care Solutions in 2015, pleaded guilty to misappropriation of fiduciary property, a third-degree felony in Texas.

District Court, Judge Phil Grant sentenced Jaggers to 7 years probation, three days in the Montgomery County Jail, ordered to pay $43,612.07 in restitution to the Montgomery County CPS Board, pay $47,703.27 in Orphan Care Solutions remaining funds to the Montgomery County CPS Board, resign from all leadership Board positions, including the Montgomery County Child Welfare and CPS Boards, Hope’s Path, Pay It Forward, and the Texas Foster Family Association; dissolve and terminate Orphan Care Solutions as a organization and 501(c)3 nonprofit, and agree to no future leadership involvement in 501(c)3 nonprofits or child welfare, orphan care or foster care organizations.

Late last year, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office – Public Integrity Division received a tip of possible criminal activity by Jaggers, and with the help of Texas Rangers, launched a criminal investigation, prosecutors said.

On May 31, investigators came to Jaggers home with a search warrant and found evidence that implicated Jaggers in the theft, officials said.

As president of Orphan Care Solutions, Jaggers took in thousands of dollars in donations from area churches, individuals, foundations, and other donors to “recruit and retain foster families, provide “normalcy” for children and caregivers, provide permanency for foster children, provide opportunities for children aging out of foster care, and provide resources for kinship care for kids in CPS custody.

Jaggers served as President of the Montgomery County Child Welfare Board and Montgomery County CPS Board, which received over $175,000.00 per year of Montgomery County funds to support their missions. During this probe, investigators learned that more than $100,000 of those Montgomery County dollars were given to Orphan Care Solutions to disburse in its work, some of which was used by Jaggers for her personal benefit,prosecutors said.

"All too often, when there is a lack of effective oversight in nonprofits and governmental boards, individuals take advantage of people and resources for their own benefit," Montgomery County DA Brett Ligon said. "I am confident after these events, the Montgomery County Judge and Commissioners Court will thoroughly review the child welfare board membership, bylaws, and processes for Montgomery County. It’s time for a fresh start with new leadership and a new beginning as we all work to ensure the vulnerable children in Montgomery County CPS custody have everything they need to succeed in life."

Send your news tips and story ideas to bryan.kirk@patch.com