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Ex-school official pleads to bilking Camden parents

A former high-level administrator for a Camden city school admitted this morning to stealing more than $14,000 in field-trip money collected from the school's impoverished students.

A former high-level administrator for a Camden city school admitted this morning to stealing more than $14,000 in field-trip money collected from the school's impoverished students.

Patricia Johnson, of Atco, was second-in-command at H.B. Wilson Elementary School. She and the school's former principal, Michael Hailey, were charged in a 10-count indictment returned by a state grand jury early last year.

Johnson and Hailey were accused of taking $14,298 intended for student outings to the Philadelphia Zoo and Franklin Institute. Parents paid $5 to $12 per trip. Authorities said the trips were paid for again by the school district.

As part of her plea agreement, Johnson is required to testify at Hailey's trial, which is scheduled for July.

Johnson pleaded guilty to a second-degree conspiracy charge in connection with the field-trip scheme. She also pleaded guilty to attempted theft by deception for efforts to bill the Camden Board of Education $25,000 for school leadership council meetings that never took place, authorities said.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend a sentence of three to five years in state prison, officials said.