| For Immediate Release May 24, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
CAPISTRANO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT AND ASSISTANT INDICTED
FOR CREATING “ENEMIES LIST” AND
MISUSING SCHOOL FUNDS
*Highest ranking school officials charged in Orange County’s history
SANTA ANA – An indictment was unsealed this morning against the former Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) for using public and school funds to create an “enemies list” of citizens supporting a 2005 recall election against the School District Board of Trustees.
Former CUSD Superintendent James Fleming, 64, is charged with three felony counts for the misappropriation of public funds, the use of school funds to urge support or defeat of a ballot measure, and conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public. The court released the defendant on his own recognizance. He faces a maximum of four years if convicted of all charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 15, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Susan McGill, 64, is charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public and one felony count of perjury. A warrant was issued and held until June 15, 2007 in the amount of $20,000. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison if convicted. Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Hess of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
“There are persons who hold certain respected positions of trust in our community. We entrust our…children’s future with educators,” said Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “It is a shame that resources were shifted away from students to create an unlawful list of political ‘enemies’.”