Former Jefferson Central School Superintendent Edward Roche was arraigned in Schoharie County Court last week on four charges including grand larceny and defrauding the government in connection with allegedly changing his contract 14 times and receiving $107,189 in improper and questionable payments.
Mr. Roche, who retired from JCS in 2005 after more than 20 years as superintendent, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony, defrauding the government, a Class E felony, and two counts of scheme to defraud in the first-degree, a Class E felony, said Schoharie County District Attorney James Sacket.
Mr. Roche, 58, of Delhi, pleaded not guilty on all counts.
He was released without bail with requirements that he return to court when asked and that he notify the state if he is to leave the state, Mr. Sacket said. The case is to return to county court on August 27 for a conference.
Mr. Sacket said that there is a systematic course of conduct to artificially increase the former superintendent’s base salary to increase his retirement benefit through increasing buyouts for sick, vacation, and personnel days and other benefits.
An audit by the state comptroller’s office released last July found 14 different versions of Mr. Roche’s employment contracts from July 1, 2000 to August 31, 2005, 12 of those from one fiscal year.
The audit stated that there should have been only two three-year contracts during that time.
Mr. Roche, the audit stated, “received payments for leave time he was not entitled to and authorized payments to himself.
“As a result, he was improperly paid $88,502 for unauthorized salary, vacation and separation pay and reimbursement of expenses.”
The audit also questioned other payments made to the former superintendent totaling $18,687.
The state comptroller’s report found the following improper and questionable payments:
• $47,437 for duplicate vacation and insurance buy-outs.
• $34,473 for 62 unearned vacation days at an inflated pay rate.
When Mr. Roche retired, he was paid for 45 unused sick days and 72 unused vacation days but only had 10 days of vacation time available, the state said.
• $3,133 for unauthorized salary.
• $3,103 for inaccurate rates for vacation buy-outs.
• $356 for non-legitimate reimbursement of expenses including three payments for mileage reimbursements and “the cost of dinners honoring elected State officials.”
JCS officials contacted the Attorney General’s office after Superintendent Carl Mummenthey said he began to discover the salary discrepancies after he replaced Mr. Roche in October 2005.