Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

NARRAGANSETT -- The Narragansett police yesterday arrested the school system's finance director on charges alleging he took more than $50,000 from the school system.

Christopher E. Mallett, 43, of 70 Lambert St., Narragansett, was arraigned yesterday in South Kingstown's district court on two felony counts each for unlawful appropriation of funds and accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes.

He was released on $50,000 personal recognizance. A felony screening will be held on Dec. 2, when the Attorney General's Office will decide whether the case will be pursued in Superior Court and what charges will be filed.

The police said School Supt. Katherine E. Sipala alerted the police to financial irregularties in the school system's records two weeks ago showing two computer-generated purchase orders and two checks written to Mallett for more than $50,000. The police allege that Mallett deposited the checks into a personal account.

The district's auditor -- Parmalee, Poirier and Associates -- is to audit the books, Sipala said in a prepared statement.

"This special review is in addition to the yearly, required audit," Sipala wrote. That audit, which covered the district's finances over the last fiscal year ending on June 30, showed no financial discrepancies, Sipala said.

The money has since been returned, Sipala said, and educational programs will not be affected.

Sipala declined further comment.

Mallett has been put on paid administrative leave pending a school board hearing Monday.

-- With reports from the Associated Press

 Tags  Narragansett police RI school district

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