Attorney: Ex-Starmont School Leader Won't Face Charges

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By Ellen Kurt

Story Created: Oct 31, 2012 at 2:05 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 31, 2012 at 10:21 PM CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The attorney for a former Iowa school superintendent is praising prosecutors for their decision not to charge him with misusing public funds.

Attorney Brandon Brown said Tuesday his client, former Starmont Community School District Superintendent Gary Stumberg, is "elated and grateful" to prosecutors in the Iowa Attorney General's Office, who closed the investigation without filing charges.

The investigation started after a June state audit accused Stumberg of $133,000 of improper and unsupported spending. Auditors claimed that he awarded himself pay and benefit increases beyond what the school board authorized.

Brown says prosecutors "took the time to examine critical information that was disregarded, discounted or simply ignored by the auditor's office." He says the money that Stumberg received for health insurance reimbursements and annuity investments was required in his employment contract.