September 14, 2005

DILLON ANNOUNCES:

ARREST OF FORMER BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESIDENT

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced today the arrest of a former Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board President Charles Reinhardt, Esq., 63, of 922 Jennie Court, North Bellmore. In addition, Reinhardt, an attorney, served simultaneously as a member of the North Bellmore Union Free School District Board Member. Reinhardt was arrested this morning by the DA’s Special Investigations Bureau for double billing the expenses of an educational trip.

According to Dillon, "My office commenced an investigation when we received information from the Superintendent of the Bellmore-Merrick Schools that Reinhardt did not reconcile expenses incurred while attending out of town school conferences. During our investigation my office discovered a previously undetected fraud in the amount of $1,423.77. Reinhardt went to New Orleans in 2003 for an education conference. He accepted a cash advance from the Bellmore Merrick District while he also used a credit card of the North Bellmore District to pay for expenses on the same trip. As a result, the North Bellmore District suffered a loss of $1,423.77.

Reinhardt has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E Felony, punishable by up to four years in prison. He will be arraigned today in First District Court in Hempstead.

"I would like to thank the Bellmore/Merrick School District for referring the matter to our attention," said Dillon. "Their cooperation and that of the North Bellmore School District during this investigation is appreciated."

Dillon said "As the District Attorney it is my job to protect the people of Nassau County and I feel that without stricter financial controls we will continue to see individuals defrauding the school districts, which affects the children of our community and adds to the already large tax burden of our residents."

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.