Prosecutor To Detail Forgery Charges Against Teacher   

By Andrew Gorosko

A state prosecutor said this week that she will provide clarifying information on 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 Danbury Superior Court on August 24, Assistant State’s Attorney Debbie Mabbett told Judge John Downey that she will provide attorney Robert Lacobelle with details on the allegations that he is seeking in defending his client, Sabrina Post, 47, of 18 Split Rock Road, Newtown.

On August 17, Judge Barbara Bellis had ordered the prosecution to submit details on the forgery allegations to Mr Lacobelle, but that information had not been submitted by August 24. 

Ms Post has pleaded “not guilty” 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 has said that the allegations that the prosecutor 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 has said 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 has said.

After court on August 24, Mr Lacobelle said that after receiving the additional information on the forgery charges, “I am hopeful that I will be able to file a motion to dismiss every forgery charge.”

Ms Post is next scheduled to appear in court on September 8.

Newtown 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 School’s choral director, a senior class advisor, a Drama Club advisor, and had been the director of the NHS Drama Club’s 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.

School officials are seeking to terminate Ms Post’s employment, in view of the criminal charges pending against her. Ms Post has opted to have a closed-door termination hearing before a three-member arbitration panel in seeking to thwart the school district’s job termination effort.

The three-member arbitration panel is expected to render a decision on the termination proceeding sometime late this year.

While the termination proceeding is pending, Ms Post is still receiving full pay and benefits from the school system.