SAD 29 credit-card investigation nearly complete

HOULTON – Local police have nearly completed their investigation into former SAD 29 Superintendent Susan Johnson’s alleged misuse of the district credit card, officials said Monday.

Detective Staff Sgt. James Skehan, who is conducting the investigation, said he plans to turn over the results of his inquiry to Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Lilley for her review.

“There is only one person left to interview,” Skehan said Monday. “I plan to submit it to [Lilley] for her review and to get her legal opinion.”

Skehan acknowledged that turning his report over to Lilley does not necessarily indicate charges will be filed in connection with the incident.

“There have been a lot of interviews conducted,” Skehan said. “But hopefully it will be done tomorrow [Tuesday.].”

Interim Superintendent Omar Norton indicated in a March 27 Bangor Daily News article that he had requested that the audit into Johnson’s alleged use of the card be sent directly to the Houlton Police Department.

Police acknowledged in early April that they had received a copy of the audit, conducted by Davis CPA of Presque Isle.

The audit focused on a district credit card that Johnson used from mid-April 2003 to early February 2004.

Credit-card statements obtained by the NEWS under the state’s Freedom of Access Law showed that nearly $17,000 was allegedly charged on the card.

It is not known at this point which charges were legitimate and which were Johnson’s personal charges. It is also unclear if any interest that accrued on the card has been repaid.

Johnson, who resigned March 1, requested the audit to assure the district that she had paid back all of her personal charges.

Norton released a timeline at an April 5 school board meeting, detailing what he said was “to the best of his knowledge” Johnson’s alleged use of the card.

The timeline revealed that two school board members, former Chairman Jon McLaughlin and Vice Chairman Greg Schools, initiated an investigation into the superintendent’s alleged actions on the advice of Harry R. Pringle of Portland, an attorney for the district.

Maine School Management Association officials criticized the inquiry at an April 14 workshop with school board members, saying the investigation should not have happened.

Board members were told they “had a quasi-judicial role” on the board, which meant that “at times [members] have to sit as a juror on a case and make a decision,” according to Ron Barker, MSMA assistant executive director.

Johnson has been unavailable for comment since, according to office staff, she has no phone.