Woman Charged in $24K Theft from 'Ride for Adam' to Face Trial

A Breinigsville woman charged with theft and other offenses for allegedly stealing $23,580 from the Ride for Adam must face further court action, according to online court records.

A preliminary hearing for Charmaine Lynn McKelvey, 43, of 8657 Breinigsville Road, Breinigsville, was held Thursday before District Judge Rod Beck, who ruled there was enough evidence to move the case onto Lehigh County Court, records show.

McKelvey is charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, all third-degree felonies.

She is accused of stealing money from the  held last year at the Schnecksville Community Fire Company. The Ride supports a non-profit foundation that assists families with funding for treatment and research of  a neuromuscular degenerative disease.

The Race for Adam Foundation was created in 2005 by colleagues of Sean Recke, a Salisbury Middle School teacher whose son, Adam, has Niemann-Pick Type C.

The money was raised at a raffle for a motorcycle at the fire company. McKelvey was president of the American Legion Riders Chapter #16 and was the organizer of the raffle, which netted ticket sales of $23,980, according to the district attorney's office.

Police have said only four raffle winners received their cash prizes and a gift card.

In testimony Thursday, witnesses said McKelvey kept changing her story about what happened with the grand prize, a 2012 custom-painted Harley Davidson Switchback motorcycle, according to a report in The Morning Call.

Bail has been set at $50,000.