School superintendent pleads innocent to fraud charges
CHICAGO (AP) - A former suburban Chicago school superintendent facing federal fraud charges has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Former Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 superintendent Lawrence Wyllie is accused of using district money for personal projects.
He entered his innocent plea to fraud and embezzlement charges on Wednesday, and his attorney said they plan to fight the case to trial.
Prosecutors say in addition to fraud and embezzlement, the 79-year-old Wyllie misrepresented Lincoln-Way's financial health and caused the district to assume at least $7 million in debt. Wyllie faces five counts of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement.
Wyllie is also accused of using at least $50,000 of school money to build and operate a dog obedience school. He also and paid himself at least $30,000 in retirement and vacation benefits not in his contract.