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W-B School Board Member Arrested for Taking Bribes

W-B School Board Member Arrested for Taking Bribes - Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 11:40PM EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- For the second time in less than a week, a school district official is facing charges from the feds. This time, the drama is playing out in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. School board member Brian Dunn was charged Tuesday with accepting kickbacks.
According to the one page complaint, Brian Dunn allegedly used his position on the board of education to accept tens of thousands of dollars in cash in return for hiring teachers and awarding contracts.

Dunn avoided all questions Tuesday afternoon as he left federal court in Wilkes-Barre. Prosecutors say the 45-year-old accepted bribes while serving the Wilkes-Barre Area School District between 2005 and 2008.

Donna Sabol said, “I think its terrible. They're supposed to be working for children, helping children and they're filling their pockets."

Parents outside Meyers High School were angry when we told them the news. Steve Pursel said, “I think they should fire him, put him in jail. If it was any one of us, we'd be in jail already.”

Christine Shoemaker's son works as a substitute teacher in the district. She says he's never had to ‘pay to play.’ “I think it sends a bad message to the kids, the parents and any taxpayer in Luzerne County," she said.

Marsha Stanish said, “I think its about time they cut back on these fellas who are corrupting the city and county."

Stanish lives right across from Meyers High School. “They should come down on them, because we're paying for it. Our taxes are paying for all this corruption," she added.

The criminal complaint lays out the basic charges against Dunn. The people paying the bribes were not identified. Documents containing that information have been sealed.

Tuesday's charges come after Wilkes-Barre Area Superintendent Jeff Namey appeared before a grand jury in Scranton earlier this month.

The charges also come just five days after Pittston Area Superintendent Ross Scarantino was also charged in a kickback scheme. If convicted both Dunn and Scarantino face up to ten years in prison and fines of $250,000.

Christine Shoemaker of Plymouth said, “What is going on? What is going on with the school boards, with all of Luzerne County? I just don't get it."

And this is not the first time Brian Dunn has been in trouble with the law. In 2005 Dunn was charged with a DUI accident where he hit a man. Dunn entered the ARD program after appearing in front of disgraced Judge Michael Conahan.

Brian Dunn has been a school board member since 1997. He is not seeking re-election this year.

Besides being a school board member, Dunn is also employed by the state Department of Revenue as an enforcement agent. Based on Tuesday's felony charges a spokeswoman confirms that Dunn will most likely be suspended without pay from his position there.
 


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