By Beth David, Editor
Christine Mitchell, 55, the former Business Office Manager of the Fairhaven Public Schools, pleaded guilty last Tuesday, 10/19/21, to stealing more than $100,000 from the school department. According to a press release from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and court documents, Ms. Mitchell stole $89,893 from Student Activities funds and Preschool funds, and took $10,892 in checks written to herself, for a total of $100,785.
She was sentenced by Judge Patrick Malone to two years in the Bristol County House of Corrections, but due to her serious medical condition, the judge suspended the sentence for five years, which means she will be on supervised probation for five years. She must also pay $1,000 in restitution, which is the amount of the school department’s insurance deductible.
“She deliberately went around the systems that she was entrusted to uphold,” said Superintendent of Schools Tara Kohler in a phone interview. Ms. Kohler said that Ms. Mitchell was a trusted member of the team, “But she definitely created the scheme to go around the system to steal cash from student activities accounts.”
Ms. Mitchell worked in the public schools for 15 years. In 2018 she took an unexpected medical leave, and discrepancies were found in her absence. When she returned, school officials confronted her. She would not provide explanations, but handed over a resignation letter that ended in “I’m so sorry,” according to the DA’s press release.
A forensic audit showed she stole $89,893 from student activities accounts and the preschool fund from 2015 to 2018, and also wrote unauthorized checks to herself in 2011 to 2012. To steal from the activities accounts, Ms. Mitchell received checks and cash but only deposited the checks. She then manipulated internal documents to cover up the theft.
“She really knew the system so well that she had people come around and deal with her directly and that’s how she was able to do it,” said Ms. Kohler.
In a written statement, Ms. Kohler, said the conviction “brings an end to a difficult chapter for the Fairhaven Public School District.”
The ruling affirms that Ms. Mitchell “knowingly stole funds intended to provide programs and services for the students of this town,” she said. “We are grateful to the Bristol County District Attorney and the New Bedford District Court for bringing this matter to a fair conclusion.”
According to court documents, Ms. Mitchell was able to write checks to herself because then-Business Manager Paul Kitchen signed blank checks.
In a police interview on 4/26/19, Mr. Kitchen told Detective Janis Guerreiro that there was no stamp with his signature on it, that he did not have any knowledge of checks written out to Ms. Mitchell, but the checks did have his signature.
“Kitchen believed this was because he put too much faith into her,” reads the report. “Kitchen said that he had signed blank checks for Christine so that she would have them in his absence as he would take family vacations and other leaves of absence.”
Mr. Kitchen told Det. Guerreiro there was no reason for Ms. Mitchell to receive any money other than her paycheck.
Checks written out to Ms. Mitchell totaled $19,865.20 according to the forensic report by Melanson Heath Accountants and Auditors.
According to the DA’s press release, consideration was given for Ms. Mitchell’s health due to the seriousness of her condition.
“The defense argued that a jail sentence was effectively a death sentence based on her current state of health,” reads the press release. “Assistant District Attorney Madalyn Fairbanks argued that years of deception and theft warranted jail time, but a shorter period was recommended in light of the defendant’s health issues.”
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