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By Kyle Doyle & Lucas Bell
Brian Tungl, the former Technology Director for Dexter Community Schools, was found guilty of embezzling more than $50,000 in iPads, Macbooks,cell phones, cameras, batteries, hard drives, and other pieces of technology from the district on May 23, 2016,
School officials have stated that Tungl stole somewhere close to $300,000 over the course of four years.
The legal battle that started following the 2014 investigation into Tungl’s actions was drawn out over the course of two years, finally ending yesterday. Judge David S. Swartz, of the Washtenaw County Trial Court, sentenced Tungl to six months jail time, 500 hours of community service, two years of probation, and restitution to the district. The amount of restitution will be officially decided within the next 60 days.
“We are saddened at DHS and Dexter Schools that a former employee took advantage of their position to purchase items for their personal use,” DHS Principal Kit Moran said. “Schools are already strapped for cash and knowing this a school employee knowingly embezzled school money… That hurts. And it really hurts kids!”
The district is seeking $429,159 in restitution after it became evident the former tech director had caused a severe amount of damage to both the actual equipment that the school utilizes as well as harming the school district’s server and network once his crimes were discovered.
“Sadly, he will serve fewer hours in jail than we spent investigating his crime.” said Dexter Community Schools superintendent Chris Timmis in an address to the staff and community following Monday’s sentencing. The district spent over 1,000 hours during their own investigation of the crimes committed.
It is worth noting that Tungl showed a total lack of remorse, and did not speak during the sentencing.
“On behalf of Dexter, the Dexter community, the children and families of dexter, we hope that Mr. Tungl has an opportunity to reflect on his callous action, from a jail cell, while we move to repair the damage he has caused,” DCS school board president Michael Wendorf said in a victim impact statement during the sentencing.
