BESE’s Walter Lee Faces Ethics Charges
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Indicted state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Walter Lee is now facing state ethics charges.
The Advocate reports the Board of Ethics alleged in documents made public Tuesday that Lee violated three state conflict of interest laws. The charges involve Lee's alleged use of his position as DeSoto Parish schools superintendent for personal gain.
Lee was indicted in January by a DeSoto Parish grand jury on felony theft, public contract fraud and malfeasance in office during his tenure as schools chief. He has pleaded not guilty.
In state court, Lee is accused of double billing expenses to the school district and BESE. Other counts allege he personally benefited from the return of a leased vehicle and intentionally performed his duties as superintendent in an unlawful manner.