NHS Teacher’s Forgery/Larceny Case Granted A Continuance

By Andrew Gorosko

During a brief appearance before a judge in Danbury Superior Court on June 15, a Newtown High School teacher was granted a two-week continuance of her court case, in which eight criminal charges are pending against her for allegedly fraudulently obtaining several thousand dollars of funds, goods, and services from the public school system.

In Courtroom 2 at the White Street courthouse, Judge Barbara Bellis continued the case against Sabrina Post, 47, of 18 Split Rock Road, Newtown, until June 29, at the request of attorney Robert Lacobelle, who represents Ms Post.

Assistant State’s Attorney Debbie Mabbett served as the prosecutor in court.

Mr Lacobelle told Judge Bellis that due to a mixup, he was not able to discuss Ms Post’s case with the state’s attorney’s staff, so he requested a two-week continuance to June 29.

The case had been continued to June 15 from a May 19 appearance. The case is on the court’s jury trial list. Ms Post is free on a written promise to appear in court.

Mr Lacobelle told Judge Bellis he would seek to discuss the case with the prosecutor before the next court appearance.

Ms Mabbett told Judge Bellis that, so far, Mr Lacobelle had only briefly discussed the case with the state’s attorney’s staff.

Following her court appearance, Ms Post had no comment on her case, referring all comments to Mr Lacobelle. Mr Lacobelle has declined comment on the various criminal allegations that police have made against Ms Post.

After her court appearance, Ms Post and Mr Lacobelle conferred outdoors, in front of the courthouse.

In court on May 19, Ms Post 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.

As Ms Post’s criminal case moves through the court system, school officials simultaneously are pursuing a course to terminate her employment. Ms Post has opted to have a termination hearing before a three-member arbitration panel in seeking to thwart the school district’s job termination effort.

Mr Lacobelle had no comment on the school system’s pursuing Ms Post’s termination. 

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, triggering the criminal investigation that resulted in Ms Post being arrested on warrants on April 11 and April 27.

Ms Post started working at Newtown High School in September 2001. Ms Post’s base salary for the current school year is $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.

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.

According to police, Ms Post also allegedly 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.