A former Miami school principal is behind bars after police say he used more than $40,000 of school funds to pay for personal housekeeping and childcare services.
Joey Bautista, 48, worked at Miami Jackson Senior High School’s Adult Education Center. He was arrested Wednesday on charges of grand theft, fraud and official misconduct.
Bautista allegedly hired a custodian to work at the school who. Instead, that "custodian" allegedly ended up working as his nanny and housekeeper while she continued to be paid by Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
M-DCPS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho released a statement saying in part, “Miami-Dade County Public Schools initiated dismissal proceedings immediately following his arrest … We will not tolerate the type of unscrupulous behavior by employees that betrays the trust of our community and belies the core values of the school district.”
Bautista is being held on a $45,000 bond.