School Teacher’s Criminal Case Continued In Court

By Andrew Gorosko

A Newtown High School teacher, who is facing eight criminal charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining several thousand dollars of funds, goods, and services from the public school system, this week had her case continued until August in Danbury Superior Court.

Sabrina Post, 47, of 18 Split Rock Road, Newtown, made a brief court appearance on July 20.

Attorney Robert Lacobelle, representing Ms Post, sought and received a continuance in the case until August 17 from Judge Barbara Bellis.

Ms Post has pleaded Not Guilty to one count of first degree larceny, two counts of second degree larceny, four counts of second degree forgery, and one count of criminal attempt to commit fifth degree larceny. Seven of the eight charges are felonies.

Ms Post is free on a written promise to appear in court. Ms Post has declined comment on the case.

Also, Mr Lacobelle sought and received an August 10 court date, at which time he will argue legal motions in the case.

Mr Lacobelle has filed two sets of legal motions on Ms Post’s behalf in seeking additional specific information on the criminal charges pending against her. The lawyer has said he wants more details than were provided in the police’s two arrest warrant documents. Police arrested Ms Post on separate warrants on April 11 and April 27.

In two separate sets of motions, Mr Lacobelle seeks a “bill of particulars” that would “enable the defendant to prepare her defense to the crimes charged, and to properly formulate her motion to dismiss certain counts, which were inappropriately brought and charged against this defendant, and which are barred by the applicable statute of limitations.”

Through the motions, the lawyer is seeking exact and precise detail explaining the nature of the alleged violations and the specific actions that his client took resulting in the criminal charges.

According to police, Ms Post allegedly submitted bogus reimbursement forms to the school system to obtain $1,735 in funds to attend two Connecticut Drama Association workshops in New York City in January 2003 and February 2004, which police say never occurred.

Police also allege Ms Post also fraudulently obtained or sought to obtain reimbursements from the school system for various goods and services, including, generally, bus transportation, music equipment purchases, electronic equipment purchases, and private music lessons. The aggregate amount involved in those offenses was somewhat greater than $2,000.

 In court on July 20, Mr Lacobelle told Judge Bellis that through the legal motions to be argued on August 10 he is seeking to narrow the scope of the criminal charges that have been filed against Ms Post.

Mr Lacobelle later said he hopes that at some point after the August 17 court appearance, he will participate in a closed conference on the case with a judge and a prosecutor.

Mr Lacobelle has met with a prosecutor on the case, but they have not reached a proposed settlement. It is thought that involving a judge in the process may facilitate a settlement.

Through such conferences, the parties seek to reach plea bargain agreements to dispose of pending criminal cases.

Ms Post is Newtown High School’s choral director, a senior class advisor, a Drama Club advisor, and had been the director of the NHS Drama Club’s production of Show Boat.

On February 8, school officials placed Ms Post on administrative leave with pay and benefits, but then declined to comment on why Ms Post was removed from her duties as a teacher. School officials then lodged a complaint with police, who investigated and later arrested Ms Post twice.

As Ms Post’s criminal case moves through the court system, school officials simultaneously are seeking to terminate her employment, in view of the criminal charges pending against her. Ms Post has opted to have a termination hearing before a three-member arbitration panel in seeking to thwart the school district’s job termination effort.

That termination hearing started on July 11 and has not concluded, according to Assistant School Superintendent Alice Jackson. More testimony will be given at the termination hearing, Ms Jackson said.

On July 11, Ms Post opted to have the termination hearing conducted in closed session.