While the U.S Attorney’s Office will not file any federal charges against former Fox C-6 School District Superintendent Dianne Critchlow, who has been accused of misusing taxpayer money, the case is still under review for possible state charges, authorities say.
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge said Monday that after he realized the U.S. Attorney’s Office would not seek charges in the case, he made a motion on Oct. 24 asking that the case be assigned to a special prosecutor, and Jefferson County Presiding Circuit Judge Darrell Missey ruled in favor of that motion.
So, the case is now in the hands of St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar.
A spokeswoman for the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirmed Monday that the case is under review there, but she would not say what specifically the office is looking for or how long the review might take.
According to a Missouri Auditor’s Office report, which was released to the public in May, Critchlow inappropriately spent taxpayer money or misused district resources in an amount ranging from $470,941 to $1,100,116, going back to 2010.
The misappropriated funds include $214,000 that auditors allege directly benefited Critchlow or her husband, Jamie Critchlow, another former Fox administrator, the report said.
Dianne Critchlow’s attorney, Brandy D. Barth with the firm of Newton, Wright and Barth, called the audit report a “biased and one-sided account filled with inaccuracies, half information and misleading statements.”
After reviewing the audit report and other evidence in the case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Nov. 10 that it would not seek federal charges against Critchlow.
“The investigation has concluded with the finding that there is no basis for criminal charges,” the office reported in a written statement.
In July, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge said his office would not file charges against Critchlow or any other former or current administrators following a state audit of the district that uncovered misuse of taxpayer dollars.
At that time, Wegge said that instead of filing charges, the case was being referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“It has come become clear that Missouri criminal statutes are insufficient to accomplish the level of accountability the taxpayers of Fox C-6 deserve,” Wegge said in a July 14 written statement. “Therefore, after discussions with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this matter is being referred to their office for potential federal prosecution.”
On Monday, he said that since there was no federal prosecution, he wanted the case to receive further review for state charges but that he didn’t want his office to handle it because he has a conflict of interest since he knows Critchlow and has family members who work for the school district.
Missey said he agreed that it was best to send the case outside the county.
“It’s appropriate that it be handled by people who don’t know her,” Missey said Monday.
Both the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI reportedly have helped investigate the case.
Barth said Critchlow was “born and raised in Arnold and devoted her entire career to the students, staff and community of the Fox C-6 School District,” and noted that Critchlow and the district received “accolades and awards” under her leadership.
Dianne Critchlow, 50, retired early from the district and Jamie Critchlow, 42, was fired, both in 2014.