The U.S Attorney’s Office will not file any federal charges against former Fox C-6 School District Superintendent Dianne Critchlow, spokeswoman Jan Diltz said today (Nov. 10).
“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.
Both the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI reportedly helped investigate the case.
According to the 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.”
She 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.