Bond set at $250,000 after Burns pleads not guilty to charges of stealing from TPS

9/2/2010

Daniel Burns, the former business manager of Toledo Public Schools, pleaded not guilt Thursday morning to 25 counts related to the alleged theft of more than $600,000 from the school district.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Ruth Ann Franks set bond at $250,000 and a trial date of Dec. 13.

Burns, who is serving a six-year prison term for his role in stealing nearly $155,000 from the Cleveland school district where he was the chief operating officer, is expected to remain in the Lucas County Jail until his trial.

In the Cleveland case, Burns faces more than $223,000 in fines and restitution.

Burns was employed by Toledo Public Schools from 1976 until he retired as chief business manager on June 30, 2006, to follow Eugene Sanders, former TPS superintendent, to a similar job in Cleveland.

He was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury last month on one count each of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft, and theft in office, as well as 22 counts of tampering with records. He and John Briggle, 56, are accused of implementing a scheme that defrauded the school district of $687,694.75 between 2002 and 2006.

If convicted, Burns faces up to 133 years in prison.