The principal of Vance Charter School, Sean Connolly, has been suspended until the charges against him are resolved.
Monday night, appearing before the school’s board of directors, Connolly read from a prepared statement, which Vance Charter School has made available to WIZS News. In the statement, Connolly said, “…I believe that I will be exonerated…I expect this matter to be resolved as quickly as possible with my full cooperation and full disclosure of both the events which occurred and the physical evidence which has already been provided to the District Attorney’s Office.”
Connolly continued, “I would hope and request that this matter will be allowed to work its way toward a favorable resolution without the board taking any action regarding my employment with Vance Charter School, as I would never do anything intentionally to bring dishonor or disrepute to our school.”
Following Connolly’s remarks, the board made its decision. The chairman of the board of directors at Vance Charter School, Billy Davidson, told WIZS News, “The board met concerning charges against Mr. Connolly and voted to suspend him until resolution of the charges.”
WIZS News originally published a press release on this matter on Friday, April 21, 2017 courtesy of the Henderson Police Department. Later on Friday, April 21, WIZS News published an update at 3:30 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. That information is provided below.
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Update 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2017
Statement on the matter from Vance Charter School: “Mr. Connolly informed the Chairman of the Vance Charter School Board of Directors of the criminal charges against him Thursday afternoon, and we will continue to closely follow this matter. Any further comment is prohibited as this is a personnel matter and would not be appropriate until the courts have rendered a decision.” The same statement can be seen on the school’s Facebook page.
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Update 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2017
There is an update to the following press release issued this morning by Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow. WIZS News contacted Chief Barrow directly, and he confirmed that the accused is the principal of Vance Charter School.
WIZS has contacted Vance Charter School as well as the attorney for the accused seeking comment, and additional relevant information will be provided if and when it becomes available.
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Press Release – April 21, 2017
Courtesy: Henderson Police Department
On Saturday, April 15, 2017, an officer with the Henderson Police Department responded to Food Lion, 377 Raleigh Road. Amanda Bullock reported to officers that her financial card had been used to make an unauthorized purchase from the store. After an investigation was conducted, officers obtained a warrant for Sean Connolly. Connolly was charged with one misdemeanor count of financial card fraud and one count of felonious unlawful obtaining credit card.
Connolly, 45, of 2167 Bobbitt Road, Henderson surrendered himself to the Vance County Sheriff’s Department, not the charging agency, on April 21, 2017. Connolly was released from custody after signing a 10,000.00 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Vance County District Court on May 18, 2017.
Further information about the arrest and bonding of Sean Connolly should be made to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
Authority: Chief Marcus Barrow