BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — A longtime Pompano Beach Catholic school principal accused of stealing nearly $240,000 in unauthorized stipends over nine years appeared in a Broward County courtroom on Monday.
The state and defense have rested their cases. The defense filed a motion for acquittal, but it was denied. The case will now go to a jury.
Defense attorneys questioned whether there had ever been complaints about the defendant’s leadership.
“During your time with the Archdiocese was there any complaints about Dr. St. Thomas?” a defense attorney asked witness Kristen Hughes, a former superintendent of elementary schools for the Archdiocese of Miami Catholic Schools.
“No,” Hughes replied.
Lori Ann St. Thomas, 62, formerly served as principal at St. Coleman Catholic School and faces charges including first-degree grand larceny and second-degree fraud.
“Would you have asked the auditors to look into it?” the defense asked Hughes.
“Absolutely,” Hughes responded. “We determined that the payments made were for stipends or reimbursements.”
St. Thomas turned herself in to investigators after an arrest warrant was issued.
Authorities allege she used a second, unauthorized bank account to deposit extra direct payments for herself and also transferred nonapproved credits into a personal pension fund from 2016 to 2024.
Prosecutors said in court, “The defendant over the course of nine years systematically and ongoing received unauthorized extra pay totaling $238,196 depriving (the school) of their funds.”
“It reflects that principals cannot receive any additional stipends without permission from the superintendent,” a prosecutor said.
Investigators said someone from the school reported the suspected theft to the Broward Sheriff’s Office late last year. The Archdiocese terminated St. Thomas’ employment in October 2024.
“You would agree that you have to ask permission to take your own stipend,” a prosecutor said.
In Florida, a first-degree grand larceny conviction carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Closing arguments are expected Tuesday at 10 a.m.
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