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Denn implored to take action on Miller

January 13, 2017

The following letter was sent to Attorney General Matt Denn, with a copy submitted to the Cape Gazette for publication.

As Delaware's attorney general and the state's chief law enforcement officer, you have broad responsibility to combat crime, safeguard families, fight fraud, and protect consumers in and throughout Delaware. You and your staff are committed to the common goal of serving all Delawareans with integrity and dedication and to ensure the public's access to open government, and protection from abuse.

We, concerned citizens of the Indian River School District, are writing this letter to our state's chief law enforcement officer to determine the reason criminal charges have not been filed against Patrick Miller, chief financial officer for the school district.

If you or your staff have read the investigative report issued by the Auditor's Office, you will find that Mr. Miller should be indicted, tried in a court of law and found guilty of misappropriating funds from the Indian River School District.

What is far, far worse is the Indian River school board was aware of his actions before he was given all the authority to handle the financial affairs of the district. Mr. Bireley, school board president and an accountant, could not have been using sound reasoning to approve such a free hand to someone who had already been involved in such a questionable past.

Interpretation can often alter the true facts in a situation, and we believe his intent was premeditated in that he was immersed in the same actions while employed at Brandywine School District and continued the actions as an employee of Indian River School District.

Although he pled nolo contendere to the charges levied against him, and was allowed to walk away with just serving probation to "avoid the trauma of a trial and unfavorable publicity which could embarrass his present employer, the Indian River School District in Sussex County for which Miller is supervisor of business and finance." He showed no remorse on the resulting trauma of his actions while continuing to misappropriate funds as an employee of Indian River school board.

The report outlines on more than one occasion Mr. Miller's misuse of funds outside of the money appropriated to the Boys & Girls Club and the volunteer fire company, such as the use of a facsimile signature for over $21,000 worth of transactions (fraud?), direct payment to his personal credit card (theft?), multiple purchases without support or explanation; $79,755 worth of payment vouchers for invalidated purposes; over $24,000 which lacked documentation and over $31,000 in credit card payments.

Sir, these actions are the actions which you stated you would protect us from: abuse, fraud and you would safeguard our families.

The actions of Mr. Miller have done untold damage to the Indian River School District and our children. Their integrity has been shattered; the community has no faith in the board any longer. The school board has insulted the entire community in asking us to support a referendum as they allow Mr. Miller to retire with full pension and compounds the insult by paying him $52,000 to end his contract.

On the heels of announcing another referendum in March, Mr. Bireley and Mr. Layfield secretly approved to pay Mr. Miller another $52,000. Since they have money to just throw away, they don't have a need for a tax increase. This final action has told the community they have no regard for the opinion of the community and they will do as they want to do.

We the community request action in this matter. As our protector, we implore you to take the steps to see this is done.

Education Coalition
Frankford

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