Principal Faces Felony Counts: Report

Paulette Thompson faces nine grand theft counts

An Oceanside elementary school principal has been charged with nine felony counts of grand theft, authorities said Friday.

The principal, Paulette Thompson, will be arraigned Tuesday on those nine counts and an additional felony related to improper use of personal identification information, Steve Walker, deputy communications manager for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, told the North County Times. The charges were filed Aug. 28.

Oceanside Unified School District officials started an investigation earlier this year after hearing concerns about Thompson and money belonging to the school's Parent-Teacher Organization, said Steve Lombard, district spokesman. Lombard said he couldn't go into further details about the situation.

Thompson has been on administrative leave from the school since February, said a district spokesman. Thompson hasn't been arrested but has received a letter from the district attorney's office letting her know she's facing the 10 felony counts, Walker said.

Thompson, a popular administrator who has received strong support from teachers, declined to comment to the paper, saying she needed to first talk with her attorney.
 

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