The Worcester County District Attorney’s office announced Thursday that its investigation into irregular special education payments in Harvard has reached a conclusion, and that no criminal charges will be filed.
The press release received by the Harvard Press on Friday said that the DA’s office had initially been contacted by a Harvard resident about six months ago, “alleging criminal wrongdoing” related to payments made from special education funds. The statement said that an investigation had been conducted by the Financial Crimes Unit of the District Attorney’s Office as well as state police detectives assigned to the DA’s office, and concluded that “Any violation of state law that may have occurred would fall under the purview of the state Ethics Commission.”
School Committee members could not be reached for comment, however Superintendent Thomas Jefferson, at the center of the controversy surrounding the alleged irregularities in special education disbursements, said, “Obviously I’m pleased. I’m not surprised [at the finding]. Any suggestion of criminal activity [related to the payments] is somewhat preposterous.”
Jefferson said that decisions made in the case in question “were in the best financial interest of the town, and in the best interest of the family involved.”
“I’m pleased they’ve concluded the investigation, and am looking forward to moving on,” he added.
Note: This article was uploaded to the Press website after the print deadline.
It did not appear in the print edition.
