Ex-Dover High teacher/wrestling booster charged with theft

Craig Anderson
Posted 4/4/16

DOVER — A 46-year-old former teacher and volunteer with the Dover High wrestling boosters was charged with two misdemeanors last week connected to alleged misuse of the club debit card, police said …

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Ex-Dover High teacher/wrestling booster charged with theft

Posted

DOVER — A 46-year-old former teacher and volunteer with the Dover High wrestling boosters was charged with two misdemeanors last week connected to alleged misuse of the club debit card, police said Monday.

Brian J. Ogbin, of the 100 block of Teak Court, turned himself in to the Dover Police Department on Friday. He was charged with theft under $1,500 and unlawful use of payment card under $1,500, according to authorities.

Brian Ogbin Brian Ogbin

Police listed the time of the alleged offense as occurring between Sept. 24, 2015, and Feb. 9, 2016.Mr. Ogbin was a teacher at Dover High from September 2013 to February 2016.

Police alleged that funds were missing from the Dover High wrestling booster account and Mr. Ogbin used a card issued to him “for the purposes of disbursing funds for the wrestling team (that) was used twice at Dover Downs Casino for a total of $510.

“There were also cash withdraws at a Wawa convenience store on three separate occasions, totaling $220.”

Investigation also found that $803 in profit from a fundraiser that Mr. Ogbin was responsible for could not be documented, police said. The fundraiser cost $3,356 and took in $4,159, according to authorities.

“After reviewing documents associated with the fundraiser and bank documents, it was determined that the profit was not added into the wrestling account at any point,” Dover police said.

Dover police said the investigation, now complete, began on Feb. 9 when Dover High’s athletic director reported that he noticed discrepancies in the funds.

“The (Capital School) district was very cooperative throughout the investigation,” Police spokesman Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman said.

After Mr. Ogbin turned himself in to police and was charged, he was released by the Justice of the Peace Court on $200 unsecured bond.

According to Superintendent Dr. Dan Shelton, Mr. Ogbin is no longer employed by the Capital School District as of February.

“The Capital School District has been working with and cooperating fully with the Dover Police Department as they investigated this matter,” Dr. Shelton said.

A news release initially referenced Mr. Ogbin as Dover High’s wrestling coach, and the district clarified that he was a volunteer for the booster club. In an affidavit of probable cause, an investigating Dover Police officer said he met Dover High’s principal at the school on Feb. 9 at 12:30 p.m. and learned of the concerns.

“(Principal) then provided documentation in the form of (bank) statements, fundraiser information, receipts and other financial documents linked the wrestling boosters account,” police said in papers.

According to police, Dover High officials said the account was opened on Sept. 24, 2015, and “the only debit card that was active for that account” from then until Nov. 18, 2015, was issued to Mr. Ogbin. Police said Mr. Ogbin was identified through the Delaware Justice Information System. A trial was scheduled for 9:45 a.m. May 2 at Justice of the Peace Court 7.

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