Guest guest Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/st-petersburg-educator-gets-69-months-for-theft-from-scholarship-fund/1032609 St. sburg educator gets 69 months for theft from scholarship fund By Waveney Ann , Times Staff Writer In Print: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 Bailiffs assist Marva Dennard, 69, as she reacts to her sentencing of 69 months in prison for stealing more than $150,000 from state scholarship programs from 2002 to ’05. Dennard ran Bishop Academy II and used the school’s account to pay personal bills. [JAMES BORCHUCK | Times] Story Tools Email Article Contact the editor Print this story Comment on this story Social Bookmarking Buzz up! 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Upton: Out of the spotlight Florida panther strolls down the boardwalk Tampa Breeze hosts lingerie football tryouts Tragedy at sea Hurricane Guide: Choosing shutters Hurricane Guide: How to prepare your boat LARGO — St. sburg educator and activist Marva Dennard was sentenced Monday to 69 months in prison, the maximum under her plea agreement, for stealing more than $150,000 from state scholarship programs. She also was ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution. Dennard, 69, was accused of stealing from the M. McKay Scholarship for students with disabilities program and the Corporate Tax Credit scholarship program for children from low-income families. Charged with grand theft and aggravated white-collar crime, she could have received up to 30 years on each first-degree felony. "You entered into a scheme and took a ton of public money,'' Judge R. s told Dennard. s noted that many Dennard supporters had asked for leniency on her behalf, but none had "any direct knowledge" of what had happened at her school. Dennard had misrepresented that she was providing professional services to the students, s said. Additionally, he said, her school lacked books, teachers and decent classrooms. Though Dennard pleaded guilty, s said, she had shown no remorse. "You accepted responsibility for nothing," he said. As it became clear s would sentence Dennard to prison, several family members ran crying from the courtroom. Dennard seemed on the verge of collapse after hearing her sentence. A bailiff gave her a chair. Dennard, who operated Bishop Academy II, was accused of inflating student numbers and submitting scholarship applications that indicated tuition was $3,500 or $7,500. The actual tuition was $2,600. She also was accused of receiving money for students who were no longer at the school or had never attended, and of failing to provide the specialized professional services prescribed by and paid for by the Department of Education. Theodore R. Dudley Jr., a supervisor with the Florida Department of Financial Services, testified that more than $243,000 from the school's account had gone to Dennard and members of her family. Some money was used to pay personal utility, electric and cable bills and property taxes, he said. Assistant state attorney Rene Bauer said the total amount of Dennard's theft was more than $340,000. Assistant public defender Yelena Zarwell asked s not to sentence her "elderly defendant" to prison. Dennard, she said, was a tireless advocate for the community and had been principal, administrator, taxi driver and cook for her students. "The children and the community benefited from this school," she said. Dennard became chief executive and director of Bishop Academy II in 2002 after it got into trouble under previous owners. The school closed in 2005. The Florida Department of Financial Services says it also is investigating Dennard in connection with grants she received from the Florida Department of Health and the Pinellas County Health Department to help provide dental screening and health education in Pinellas County.[Last modified: Aug 31, 2009 11:06 PM] Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you’re up to on Facebook. Find out more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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