Illinois Teacher Accused of Stealing Over $6K from Home Depot
Lester James, a 59-year-old building trades teacher at Marion High School in Illinois, has been accused of stealing nearly $6,000 worth of merchandise from Home Depot over the past 90 days.
The thefts were reportedly discovered after Home Depot filed a complaint with the police. Video footage and store records showed that James used both his school's PRO account and his personal PRO account to make fraudulent purchases.
According to the probable cause affidavit, James made at least 22 separate trips to Home Depot, accumulating over $5,956 in stolen merchandise and refunds. However, security footage only goes back 90 days, suggesting that the thefts may have been ongoing for a longer period.
The Marion Unit 2 School District has placed James on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.