Burns enters plea on 3 counts involving theft from TPS

12/13/2010

Dan Burns, the former administrator accused of stealing more than $650,000 from Toledo Public Schools, entered a plea Monday morning to three of the 25 charges he had been facing.

Burns entered an Alford plea Monday morning to one count each of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft in office, and tampering with records. An Alford plea means the accused does not admit guilt but concedes there is enough evidence to convict.

He had been facing a total of 25 counts for participating in a scheme that defrauded TPS of $687,694.75 over a period of four years while he worked as an administrator there.

As part of the plea agreement on Monday, Burns agreed to make full restitution. The total amount must still be negotiated, but it will be around $650,000.

Burns faces up to 20 years when he is sentenced at a Jan. 4. As part of Monday's deal, the time he receives in the Lucas County case will run concurrently with the six years he is currently serving in Cuyahoga County on similar charges involving the Cleveland school district.