Judge Orders Clarification Of Charges Against School Teacher
Judge Orders Clarification Of Charges Against School Teacher
By Andrew Gorosko
A Danbury Superior Court judge has ruled that the state must clarify its allegations concerning felony forgery charges that are pending against a Newtown High School teacher for allegedly fraudulently obtaining several thousand dollars of funds, goods, and services from the public school system.
In court on August 17, Judge Barbara Bellis ruled in favor of a request by attorney Robert Lacobelle, who represents defendant Sabrina Post, 47, of 18 Split Rock Road, Newtown.
The judge ruled that Mr Lacobelle should receive from the state prosecutor more specific information concerning the stateâs allegations of second degree forgery against Ms Post.
Ms Post has pleaded ânot guiltyâ to one count of first degree larceny, two counts of second degree larceny, four counts of second degree forgery, and one count of criminal attempt to commit fifth degree larceny. Seven of the eight charges are felonies. Ms Post is free on a written promise to appear in court. Ms Post has declined comment on the case.
Mr Lacobelle said that the allegations that the state has provided to him concerning the larceny charges contain sufficient detail, but the allegations concerning the second degree forgery charges do not contain enough detail.
The lawyer told the judge he wants to know exactly what the state alleges against his client concerning the second degree forgery charges because those allegations may not warrant those felony charges. The allegations may not even constitute third degree forgery, which is a misdemeanor, Mr Lacobelle said.
Assistant Stateâs Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky, III, argued that the state had provided Mr Lacobelle with sufficient detail on the various allegations against Ms Post.
âI have looked at their filesâ¦Theyâre copies⦠Itâs not an original,â Mr Lacobelle argued, adding that original documents be the evidence upon which forgery charges are based, not photocopies of original documents.
After the court session, Mr Lacobelle said he wants additional information on the forgery allegations against Ms Post in seeking to narrow the scope of the criminal charges against her. Such information may form the basis for seeking a dismissal of charges, the lawyer said.
In court, Judge Bellis had asked why the case against Ms Post has drawn on since April.
âWhy is the case so old? Itâs four months old. It needs to move,â Judge Bellis said.
Ms Postâs next court appearance is scheduled for August 24.
Police arrested Ms Post on separate warrants on April 11 and April 27.
According to police, Ms Post allegedly submitted bogus reimbursement forms to the school system to obtain $1,735 in funds to attend two Connecticut Drama Association workshops in New York City in January 2003 and February 2004, which police say never occurred.
Police also allege Ms Post also fraudulently obtained or sought to obtain reimbursements from the school system for various goods and services, including, generally, bus transportation, music equipment purchases, electronic equipment purchases, and private music lessons. The aggregate amount involved in those offenses was somewhat greater than $2,000.
Ms Post is Newtown High Schoolâs choral director, a senior class advisor, a Drama Club advisor, and had been the director of the NHS Drama Clubâs production of Show Boat.
On February 8, school officials placed Ms Post on administrative leave with pay and benefits, but then declined to comment on why Ms Post was removed from her duties as a teacher. School officials then lodged a complaint with police, who investigated and later arrested Ms Post twice.
As Ms Postâs criminal case moves through the court system, school officials simultaneously are seeking to terminate her employment, in view of the criminal charges pending against her. Ms Post has opted to have a termination hearing before a three-member arbitration panel in seeking to thwart the school districtâs job termination effort.
That termination hearing started on July 11 and has not concluded, according to School Superintendent Evan Pitkoff. More testimony will be given at upcoming sessions, Dr Pitkoff said August 17. Ms Post has opted to have the hearing conducted in closed session.
Based on the current schedule, the three-member arbitration panel would render a decision on the termination proceeding sometime late this year, possibly in December, Dr Pitkoff said.
While the termination proceeding is pending, Ms Post is still receiving full pay and benefits from the school system.
Ms Post started working at Newtown High School in September 2001. Ms Postâs base salary for the 2004-2005 school year was $73,339. That sum does not include the stipends that she is paid for the additional school duties, which add $12,000 to her salary. School teachers, including Ms Post, are receiving annual raises for the 2005-2006 school year.