Criminal counts against Chesco school chief upheld
A Chester County Court judge has upheld criminal charges against the former superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District on theft, conflict of interest, and other charges in a ruling filed Tuesday.
A Chester County Court judge has upheld criminal charges against the former superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District on theft, conflict of interest, and other charges in a ruling filed Tuesday.
An attorney for Richard Como had asked the judge to throw out the case against the former superintendent eight months ago, claiming lack of evidence.
Judge Thomas G. Gavin on Tuesday threw out three counts -- one for theft by unlawful taking, one for attempted theft by deception, and one for conflict of interest. But the judge held Como for trial on the other 44 charges against him, including additional counts of theft and conflict of interest.
Como is accused of nepotism in hiring practices and diverting school district funds to pay for high school championship football rings, among other offenses. He resigned in 2013 after school officials discovered racist and sexist text messages on his school-issued phone.
His trial is scheduled to begin March 7.
Michaelle Bond