November 24, 2014: Former Western High School Principal Charged With Felony Theft

For Immediate Release                                                                     November 24, 2014

FORMER WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CHARGED WITH FELONY THEFT FROM STUDENT ACTIVITY FUND

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt announced today that the Baltimore City Grand Jury has indicted former Western High School Principal Alisha Trusty on ten counts of felony theft and one count of misappropriation by a fiduciary. The Baltimore City Public School System’s Office of Legal Counsel referred this matter to the State Prosecutor’s Office after internal auditors discovered irregularities in the use of funds by Ms. Trusty. Ms. Trusty, 38, is presently employed with the Teaching Trust located in Dallas, Texas.

The Indictment alleges that, between February of 2011 and January of 2014, Ms. Trusty used the Student Activity Fund account debit card on numerous occasions to purchase personal items and pay personal bills to include personal legal fees and her BGE bill. The Indictment further alleges that, while out on sick leave and still being paid by the Baltimore City Public School System in June of 2014, Ms. Trusty was employed and receiving a paycheck from an educational institution, The Teaching Trust, based in Dallas, Texas. The total amount of the alleged thefts is over $60,000.

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt stated: “Public School principals are trusted and relied on by the school system, students and parents to always act in the best interests of their students. Betrayal of that trust by a principal who steals student activity funds is a particularly reprehensible offense that cannot be tolerated”

Although charged, the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until there is a conviction.