DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County Schools placed Superintendent Dr. Devon Horton on administrative leave on Thursday after he was indicted in a federal court in Illinois.
All the latest developments LIVE on Channel 2 Action News starting at 4 p.m.
According to the indictment, Horton faces charges that he participated in a scheme to defraud the District 65 school system in Illinois, where her previously worked as superintendent.
Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes was live in DeKalb County Thursday for Channel 2 Action News at 6:00.
The district will continue to pay his salary of close to $400,000 per year - while this indictment plays out.
What the indictment essentially says: Horton participated in scheme to defraud District 65 of money and property through kickbacks.
The district made payments to companies, and portions of those payments were kicked back to Horton through the other defendants, according to the indictment.
It also says Horton submitted fraudulent documents to obtain professional service contracts and money.
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District 65 said it was aware of the ongoing federal investigation and has supported the process fully, but had stayed silent until now at the request of federal authorities.
“We are deeply troubled and angered by these allegations. Now that the federal government has formally indicted, the District is reviewing the specific details of the indictment with the District’s legal counsel,” school district officials said in a statement. “A more detailed statement will be forthcoming after we have had an opportunity to review the details of the indictment.”
Horton’s attorney, Terence Campbell, of the Chicago law firm Cotsirilos, Poulos & Campbell, sent Channel 2 Action News a statement, saying:
“Dr. Horton has served the DeKalb County School District honorably and with the highest integrity over the past few years as Superintendent.
“Under his leadership in DeKalb County, graduation rates have gone up, student attendance has risen, student performance has improved, and hundreds of teacher vacancies have been filled with high-quality educators.
“The allegations in Chicago relate to conduct that is several years old and have nothing whatsoever to do with his very successful work on behalf of the students, families, and teachers in DeKalb County.
“Dr. Horton is eager to address his case in court so he can return his focus to bettering the lives and education of children, which has been his passion throughout his professional career.”
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Channel 2 Action News reached out to the DeKalb County School District, which said they were aware of the indictment but had no comment.
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson shared a statement with Channel 2 Action News about the indictment, saying, “I am unfamiliar with the indictment. I can’t speak on it, however, in our professional relationship, I’ve found Dr. Horton to be a great partner in education. He has been a voice of reason during our interactions, and I have treated him with the same measure of respect he has given me.”
On Thursday, the DeKalb County Board of Education voted to place Horton on paid administrative leave.
In the interim, Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, the chief of student services, will serve as acting Superintendent of Schools.
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