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The curious case vs. John Green
The curious case of John Green just got a little bit more curious.
Green used to sit on the Penn-Delco School Board. He was at the center of the storm that enveloped the district, and eventually led to criminal convictions for former school board President Keith Crego and Superintendent Leslye Abrutyn.
Green did not escape unscathed. It turns out Green never disclosed that a contract awarded by the district went to his employer, and that he got a commission out of the deal. He pleaded no contest to a conflict of interest charge.
Then there was the matter of the financial disclosure forms he was required to file for holding office. It turns out Green and the district’s former financial officer had problems with their forms. He was fined $500 by the state Ethics Comission.
But Green really found himself in hot water when he was charged with stealing money from a booster club for female athletes at Sun Valley High School. The charges alleged he pocketed $16,000 in club accounts.
Yesterday the district attorney’s office withdrew the charges.
Green’s attorney explained that his client had actually advanced the Sportsters Club $19,000, then reimbursed himself for the funds.
As it turns out, he only got $16,000 back. In other words, one way of looking at it is that the club actually owes him money, about $3,000.
Michael F.X. Gillin, who represents Green, says he might not be the best bookkeeper around, but “his is no thief.”
But the D.A. doesn’t sound totally convinced.
Despite withdrawing the charges, the D.A.’s office released a statement saying Green remains under investigation. The D.A. said county detectives have continued their probe of Green since the charges were first filed and new information in the case could lead to new charges against Green.
And so the latest chapter in the saga of John Green. And it sounds distinctly like this will not be the last.
Curiouser and curiouser.
All in a school district where curious endeavors by officials set new standards for curious.
Green used to sit on the Penn-Delco School Board. He was at the center of the storm that enveloped the district, and eventually led to criminal convictions for former school board President Keith Crego and Superintendent Leslye Abrutyn.
Green did not escape unscathed. It turns out Green never disclosed that a contract awarded by the district went to his employer, and that he got a commission out of the deal. He pleaded no contest to a conflict of interest charge.
Then there was the matter of the financial disclosure forms he was required to file for holding office. It turns out Green and the district’s former financial officer had problems with their forms. He was fined $500 by the state Ethics Comission.
But Green really found himself in hot water when he was charged with stealing money from a booster club for female athletes at Sun Valley High School. The charges alleged he pocketed $16,000 in club accounts.
Yesterday the district attorney’s office withdrew the charges.
Green’s attorney explained that his client had actually advanced the Sportsters Club $19,000, then reimbursed himself for the funds.
As it turns out, he only got $16,000 back. In other words, one way of looking at it is that the club actually owes him money, about $3,000.
Michael F.X. Gillin, who represents Green, says he might not be the best bookkeeper around, but “his is no thief.”
But the D.A. doesn’t sound totally convinced.
Despite withdrawing the charges, the D.A.’s office released a statement saying Green remains under investigation. The D.A. said county detectives have continued their probe of Green since the charges were first filed and new information in the case could lead to new charges against Green.
And so the latest chapter in the saga of John Green. And it sounds distinctly like this will not be the last.
Curiouser and curiouser.
All in a school district where curious endeavors by officials set new standards for curious.
posted by Heron's Nest at
7:52 AM
2 Comments:
Lessons learned:
1. No good deed went unpunished in PDSD back in the day.
2. Not a good idea to go against the politically connected.
3. Makes more sense why employees didn't come forward.
I am a bit confused. Were there others who did not fill out financial statements at Penn-Delco yet no charges were brought. And did not other board members vote on contracts where they were employed and why weren't they brought up on charges? Who was watching over the hen house while the chickens were running amuck? It seems the advice they were given or not given was really ineffective.
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