A former principal from Sussex Central High School has been arrested on several charges, including official misconduct and theft, following an inquiry into falsified payments within the Indian River School District. On March 19, Judith Brittingham, 46, from Lewes, was issued a warrant for charges of official misconduct, theft, and forgery.
The investigation revealed that Brittingham arranged for improper overtime and mileage compensation payments for an IRSD paraprofessional. Brittingham later entered into a romantic relationship with the paraprofessional. According to Attorney General Kathy Jennings, "No one is above the law or beneath justice ... Public employees who break the law are harming taxpayers, themselves, and good public servants whose work is undermined when the public trust is eroded. I am grateful to our prosecutors and the Delaware State Police for their dedication as we move forward with this case."
The misconduct occurred between April 4, 2022, and May 30, 2023, when Brittingham organized overtime payments for tutoring allegedly done during school hours, which were fraudulent. Brittingham submitted paperwork for 159 false shifts, resulting in over $15,000 in unwarranted payments. The situation came to light after Brittingham was informed by the school’s personnel director about the district's awareness of her relationship with the paraprofessional, which prompted the disclosure of the payments.
Additionally, Brittingham arranged for incorrect mileage reimbursements for the paraprofessional, measuring from his home in Laurel rather than Sussex Central High School, resulting in an overpayment exceeding $600. Investigators suspect Brittingham submitted the forms without the paraprofessional's consent or knowledge.