The former Montgomery County Public Schools Assistant Director of Transportation pleaded guilty May 18 to a theft scheme involving more than $100,000 and misconduct in office.
Charles Ewald was released on his own recognizance. He will be sentenced Sept. 6 in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Ewald, along with former Director Todd Watkins, have been under investigation for using almost $600,000 of MCPS funds for their personal use.
According to an audit by The Office of Legislative Audits, Department of Legislative Services, MCPS questioned some purchases during its normal review of credit card activity. An internal audit unit by the school district found “questionable purchases,” including gift cards, furniture, and other purchases that were shipped to an employee’s home.
According to an internal audit, MCPS found an account maintained by a transportation vendor, whose name was redacted from the audit. That account was not part of MCPS’ Office of Finance and, therefore, not monitored by MCPS.
After learning of the discrepancies, MCPS hired professional forensic auditors.
“It was because of that great work, and significant cooperation with our police partners, that MCPS has recovered in excess of $800,000,” Spokesperson Jessica Baxter said at that time.
Since its investigation, the school district chose a new vendor for buses, revised its internal structures that monitor finance and procurement, provided retraining for staff who purchase cards, evaluated employees with access to purchase cards and decreased the limits for card purchasing, she said.
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