The head of one of the school districts in Indiana was accused of abuse of power and fraud. Casey Smitherman used the name of his son, to help the sick student, who didn’t have health insurance.
«I know that it was illegal. [But] in the last time, I only cared about the health of this child,» said the official.
After charges Casey Smitherman released to court on bail in $500.
«I understand that she wanted to help the teenager caught in a difficult situation, but this is probably not the best example for young people who may try to impersonate someone else,» said the Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings.
According to the confession of the head of the school district, she became alarmed when the student came to school. Woman has repeatedly helped the teenager: one day she bought him clothes and helped clean the house.
9 Jan Casey Smitherman took 15-year-old student, who turned out to be inflamed throat and was taken to the hospital. They refused to accept the teenager, then they went to another hospital, where Smitherman gave apprentice for his son, and putting in documents the name of your child. According to the indictment, the doctor prescribed the patient amoxicillin. Buying medicine at the pharmacy CVS, the woman took the boy home.
«As a mother, I know how serious is this disease, if left untreated, and took him to the hospital emergency room, said Casey Smitherman. I knew that he had no insurance, but I wanted to do everything possible to help him recover.»
On 16 January the guardian of the student contacted the police Department Elwood, to learn how his client received medical care. According to police documents, a student ripped off the label from the bottle of medicine, because «knew that it was illegal.»
School superintendent Casey Smitherman was arrested on felony charges after she used her insurance to pay for an antibiotic prescription for a student who was sick with strep throat: https://t.co/1oaDVmdnXL pic.twitter.com/nfK5ohkwEu
— Tom Cleary (@tomwcleary) January 24, 2019
The next day, Smitherman voluntarily came to the police station to testify. The woman explained that it is not contacted by the Department for the protection of children, because he was afraid that the boy will be sent to a foster family.
«She made a mistake, but we understand that this was due to concern for the welfare of the child, — said the administration of the Elwood City Area School District. — We know she realizes what I did was wrong, but we will continue to support it».
Attorney Brian Williams said that his client was retained and involved in the rehabilitation program, according to which if during the year a woman is not arrested, it will drop all the charges.
