Michigan AG charges former Oakland ISD superintendent with embezzlement

DETROIT (AP) — The state attorney general on Monday announced felony embezzlement and misconduct charges against the former superintendent of the Oakland County Intermediate School District.

James Redmond, who was fired by the Oakland ISD board last year amid claims he paid more than $680,000 in secret buyouts and used staff development money for personal flying lessons, also was charged with a misdemeanor count of having a contractual conflict of interest, said Attorney General Mike Cox.

"We intend to show ... that Mr. Redmond engaged in these and other acts that formed a pattern of lies, conflict of interest, no-bid contracts, and petty corruption that was meant to deceive the ISD Board, the state Board of Education and the public," Cox said at a news conference.

A telephone message seeking comment was left for Redmond's attorney, Mark Kriger of Detroit.

The embezzlement charge arose from Redmond's demand for a recalculation of a severance check to himself that netted him $6,972, Cox said. That charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Cox claimed Redmond committed misconduct in office "on several occasions," and that the misconduct was linked to the contractual conflict of interest charges.

Redmond allegedly failed to disclose that while serving as superintendent, he also was chairman of the board of the MINDS Institute, a nonprofit corporation that "benefited directly from contracts with the district" without bids, Cox said.

In addition, Cox said Redmond also failed to disclose his son's employment with DataServ, a company that authorities claim was passed contracts through the MINDS Institute.

The misconduct and conflict of interest charges carry sentences of five years in prison and 90 days in prison, respectively, upon conviction.

Cox said allegations that the board unwisely spent or allocated district funds were not the subject of the investigation, which was launched in May 2003, and that other board members likely would not be charged.

"This investigation did not focus on Mr. Redmond's expenses exceeding over $130,000 dollars over a two-year period of time," Cox said. "Those matters are best addressed in the public forum: by the Legislature, State Board of Education, and ultimately, the voters of Oakland County and this state."

He said Redmond would be allowed to surrender himself within the next day or two to the Oakland County Sheriff's Department.

The charges come as a state House committee is in the middle of five weeks of testimony from current and former district employees about the alleged financial abuse.

Redmond was supposed to be testifying before the House Education Subcommittee on Intermediate School Review, chaired by Rep. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly.

While applauding Cox's announcement, Johnson said the focus of the committee's work is to ensure that accountability is stressed in the state's school districts.

The attorney general "was going after criminal charges, we're asking how did it get to the point that it did," Johnson said Monday.

"There were a number of people involved that violated the public trust. That may not be criminal, but it's wrong," she said. "We want to make sure that we get the money to the kids. It's not getting there when people go on golfing outings to Palm Springs."

Johnson said Redmond had been subpoenaed to appear at the hearing and could be held in contempt if he does not attend. But she said that she will work with Cox's office to ensure they comply with his request that the committee not call witnesses needed in the criminal case.

The Oakland County ISD is one of 57 in the state. Intermediate school districts provide support for schools in several areas, including special education and professional development.

2 posted on 03/29/2004 4:55:38 PM PST by Dan from Michigan ("Had to cool me down to take another round, now I'm back in the ring to takea-nother swing")

I pray that they are not going after yet another fine minority educator solely because of his race!

Have you SEEN the new ISD building? Talk about overkill...! They spent a fortune on that glass and steel monolith and stuck in on one of the most ugly pieces of real estate around - behind a failing mall and overlooking a swamp! All this during a time of cost cuts, millage renewals and demands for more money.

Just disgusting.

4 posted on 03/29/2004 5:16:57 PM PST by Kieri (Who's waiting for the return of her beloved Farscape!)

I used to live in Oakland County, for a number of years. Not a bad place if you don't mind long (Oct-May), dark winters.

I grew up there.
Have not found a good reason to travel that far North in over six years.
Michigan to me means cars, bars and corrupt unions.

6 posted on 03/29/2004 5:35:55 PM PST by sarasmom (Watching mainstream liberal media "news reports" will cause brain atrophy.)

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