The Pima Partnership School

“Former Tucson school principal given probation in theft case.” Arizona Daily Star, 10/13/2011

A former charter school principal was placed on three years probation and ordered to pay nearly $23,000 in restitution for attempted theft Thursday.

William Eddings Jr. was the principal at a charter school operated by the Pima Prevention Partnership when discrepancies were discovered during an audit by the Arizona Department of Education, according to court records.

The audit and subsequent investigation revealed that between June 16, 2006, and March 15, 2008, Eddings submitted inflated attendance records, awarded diplomas to 13 students who didn’t meet the state’s graduation requirements and signed invoices for services not provided to the school. Eddings received bonuses of $5,000 based on the information he provided.

Eddings was indicted in April on two counts of fraud and one count of theft; he pleaded guilty to attempted theft in August.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Eddings could have received up to three years and nine months in prison.

On Thursday, Assistant Arizona Attorney General Michael Jette told Judge Howard Fell of Pima County Superior Court he is concerned Eddings has not accepted responsibility for his actions.

Eddings told a probation officer he didn’t do anything wrong and only pleaded guilty to end his legal problems.

In addition to the probationary sentence, Eddings was ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.

Eddings, who lives in Arizona City, hopes to have his probation transferred to Pinal County.