A former Principal at Sussex Central High School (SCHS) has been taken into custody on several charges, such as Official Misconduct and Theft, linked to fraudulent payments to a staff member within the Indian River School District (IRSD), officials announced on Tuesday.

On March 19, Judith Brittingham, aged 46, from Lewes, faced charges including Official Misconduct, Theft, and Forgery. These charges stem from an investigation that led to her indictment involving fabricated overtime and mileage payments arranged by Brittingham to favor an IRSD paraprofessional, with whom she later developed a romantic involvement, as stated by the SG’s office.

According to prosecutors, from April 4, 2022, to May 30, 2023, Brittingham orchestrated the payment of overtime to an IRSD paraprofessional for in-home tutoring sessions that took place during school hours. Brittingham filed fraudulent documents that claimed 159 false overtime shifts, resulting in over $15,000 in improper overtime compensation to the paraprofessional, prosecutors reported.

The overpayments came to light after the SCHS Personnel Director informed Brittingham that the District had become aware of Brittingham’s romantic relationship with the Paraprofessional in 2024 and notified Brittingham that they would both be subjected to an investigation by the District, prompting Brittingham to disclose the payments officials said.

Brittingham’s false overtime filings also resulted in overpayment of mileage reimbursements to the paraprofessional. While the paraprofessional was legitimately entitled to some reimbursement for his drive to the student’s home, the mileage reimbursement he received was measured from his home in Laurel rather than from Sussex Central High School, resulting in an overpayment of just over $600. Investigators believe Brittingham submitted reimbursement forms on behalf of the paraprofessional without his knowledge or consent officials said.