INDICTED on six felony counts.
Feb 7, 2008 - Robert Watson, former Poughkeepsie City School District Superintendent, was indicted on two counts of grand larceny, four counts of offering a false instrument for filing and the seventh county alleges a misdemeanor of payment of an unqualified teacher as an unclassified misdemeanor.
Six of the seven counts are felonies.
The Poughkeepsie Journal: The grand jury, which began hearing testimony in 2006, was investigating the school system’s fiscal affairs during Watson’s nearly six years as superintendent.
Watson resigned in late 2005 with a six-figure separation agreement approved by the school board. At the time, Watson said he was leaving to pursue other interests in education.Watson is expected to turn himself in after which the indictments will be unsealed.
An audit by the state Comptroller’s Office released last summer was highly critical of Watson and found $1.2 million in questionable spending during his tenure. [District Attorney William] Grady said the grand jury used the state audit during its investigation.
The panel began hearing testimony in 2006. Grady’s office began its initial inquiry into the district in late 2005, soon after Watson’s resignation was accepted by the board.
DWI CHARGES June 24 - Watson pleaded guilty to to driving with his ability impaired, a violation, but not drunken driving misdeamor as was originally charged wi following a traffic stop last month in the Town of LaGrange. He allegedly registered a 0.14 percent blood-alcohol reading. He was fined $500, ordered to pay $85 in court costs and attend a victim impact panel.
Watson also faces a DWI charge in upstate Colonie following his arrest there in March, although that might be dismissed, according to Watson's lawyer, after a judge found the police officer who arrested Watson could not recall details of the field sobriety test. Watson refused a breath test following that traffic stop.
No date wa given for an appearance on the felony larceny charges.
-------------------------
August 15, 2007 - Audit: $1.2M in Questionable Spending at Poughkeepsie Schools
NYSSCPA = New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.
TRIAL DELAYED October 31 - The trial has been delayed until Wednesday for unspecified reasons. Watson, 44, is accused of misappropriating more than $1 million in district funds. He is charged with two felony counts of grand larceny, four felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one count of payment of an unqualified teacher, a misdemeanor.
