Former principal sentenced for taking school funds

The Minneapolis school principal who used her school district credit card to make personal charges of at least $11,0000 was sentenced to probation and time in the county workhouse, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday.

Anne De Perry, 56, pleaded guilty to theft by swindle in November and her attorney and a Hennepin County prosecutor spent two days arguing over what her sentence should be and whether she could serve it in Arizona, where she is planning to move shortly.

Ultimately, Hennepin County District Court Judge Gina Brandt sentenced De Perry Thursday morning to three years on probation and four days in the Hennepin County workhouse in Plymouth, with credit for one day already served. In addition, she must perform 240 hours of community service. De Perry already has paid the Minneapolis School District $10,000 in restitution. Prosecutors had asked for 120 days in the workhouse.

A random audit by the school district in October 2015 turned up a charge at a hat store overseas on the school district credit card issued to De Perry. The auditor then looked at her charges going back to December 2013 and found $11, 830 that were not school related. About a month later, De Perry resigned from her position as principal of Whittier International School.