Former MISD secretary pleads not guilty

A former Midland Independent School District employee pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges of embezzlement, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Anette Brewer Fitzhugh, 40, a former Midland Freshman High School secretary, is scheduled to stand trial Nov. 1.

Authorities said Fitzhugh embezzled funds from August 2006 until May 2010, sending at least 49 checks from a school bank account to herself. Some of the checks reportedly contained forged signatures of other school officials.

An investigation revealed more than $61,000 missing from the school’s activity fund account. Fitzhugh is free on $10,000 bond.