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Former Brookfield school finance official gets probation

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Elizabeth Kerekes, left, the former Brookfield School finance employee, represented by attorney Vicki Hutchinson, right, was granted a probationary program that could wipe out her charges of larceny and conspiracy, Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Elizabeth Kerekes, left, the former Brookfield School finance employee, represented by attorney Vicki Hutchinson, right, was granted a probationary program that could wipe out her charges of larceny and conspiracy, Wednesday, July 20, 2016.Carol Kaliff / Hearst Connecticut Media

BROOKFIELD — A former Brookfield schools employeee was ordered to repay the district more than $26,000 to resolve charges that she helped steal tens of thousands of dollars from the district.

The restitution was ordered as part of a plea agreement that will let Elizabeth Kerekes avoid prison if she successfully completes a special probationary program. The deal comes 10 months after police charged her with larceny and conspiracy, which carry a maximum sentence of 40 years.

In Danbury Superior Court on Wednesday, Kerekes’ attorney, Vicki Hutchinson, argued that former schools finance chief Art Colley, who is charged with larceny, conspiracy and fraud, was responsible for the illegal payments to Kerekes, his assistant, as part of a secret “side contract.”

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Hutchinson said Kerekes had no control over the money and argued that as a first-time offender, she was a perfect candidate for the ;probationary program, which will wipe away the charges if certain conditions are met over the course of two years.

“She is an ideal candidate for this program,” Hutchinson said. “She has cooperated fully, she has a stable family life, the ability to make restitution and is unlikely to offend in the future.”

State’s Attorney Deborah Mabbett approved the plea agreement, but attorney Jennifer Dixon, representing the Board of Education, strenuously objected. She argued that Kerekes should be forced to pay the full $30,315 she was accused of misappropriating.

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“The Brookfield Board of Education adamantly objects to Ms. Kerekes’ application for accelerated rehabilitation,” Dixon told Judge Susan Reynolds. “The Brookfield Board of Education believes that the actions for which Ms. Kerekes is being charged constitutes crimes against the taxpayers, the citizens and in particularly the students.”

Reynolds granted Kerekes admittance to the probationary program, but she rejected claims that the defendant did not know the extra benefits she was receiving were illegal.

“Although your client claims ignorance and that she had no control over the accounts, she was being paid $55,000 (in salary) to be the assistant to the director of finance,” Reynolds said. “We’re not speaking about a naive woman, no matter how much she claims that.

“That is nonsense,” she continued. “I don’t believe that for a minute.”

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According to court records, Colley instructed Kerekes not to mention the side contract, under which she was reimbursed for her dental bills and college tuition and her children’s day care at the Brookfield YMCA.

Arrest warrant affidavits also said Kerekes’ son received checks drawn from a student activity fund totaling $9,000. Police said the checks were endorsed by Kerekes and deposited into her bank account.

Kerekes told police that the payments were intended as bonuses but were written to her son so other employees wouldn’t suspect she was getting special treatment.

As conditions of the accelerated rehabilitation program, Kerekes must make immediate restitution, avoid committing another crime within two years and tell potential employers about her case if she seeks a job in finance.

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If those conditions are met, Hutchinson said, the charges will be wiped from Kerekes’ record on July 20, 2018.

First Selectman Steve Dunn said the resolution of Kerekes’ charges was appropriate and hopes the town can move past the scandal, which shook residents’ trust in the Board of Education and the town’s finance department.

“This has been a sad chapter in Brookfield’s history,” Dunn said. “I’m glad that we achieved resolution and that the town will be compensated. No one wants to crucify anyone, but the town wants to be made whole and get this behind us.”

School Board Chairman Bob Belden, who like Dunn took office after Kerekes and Colley were arrested, said he was happy some restitution was being made.

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“I’m glad to see that the legal process is proceeding and concluding,” Belden said. "The board is glad any amounts due to be reimbursed to the school district are being paid.”

Kerekes and Colley were arrested last September after a months-long police investigation. The investigation began after an auditor discovered in 2014 that the district had overspent its budget by $1.5 million over two years. A subsequent forensic audit revealed tens of thousands of dollars in questionable spending by Kerekes and Colley.

The case against Colley was continued until Aug. 10.

awolff@newstimes.com; 203-731-3333; @awolffster

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I’m a municipal reporter covering Brookfield and Ridgefield, CT. After growing up in South Salem, NY, I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a journalism degree. I joined The News-Times in August  2015 after covering local government and sports in Pelham, NY for six years.