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PORT ROYAL -- Former Juniata County School District Superintendent Keith Yarger and Edward Apple, most recently director of secondary education and formerly principal of Juniata High School, have each been charged with multiple felony counts of theft and conspiracy to commit theft.
According to court documents, Apple, 50, of Richfield, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, all third-degree felonies. Documents indicate the charges stem from a January 2019 offense.
Yarger, 49, currently residing in Mesa, Ariz., but formerly of Port Royal, was charged with felonies of theft by unlawful taking and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, accessing a device without authorization by user, criminal attempt to commit theft by unlawful taking and misdemeanor, theft by deception, court documents state. Documents indicate the charges stem from a Dec. 19, 2016, offense.
Both charges were filed Friday by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Shane Varner in Magisterial District Court 41-3-02 before Judge Jacqueline Leister.
Both cases are pending issuance of their summons or warrants. It is unknown whether Apple and Yarger's charges are related.
A Juniata County district attorney staff member told The Sentinel that their office has not yet received the documents outlining the probable cause for these charges.
Juniata County School District has been under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police since February, following Yarger's sudden resignation.
In a separation agreement, Yarger attributed his resignation to "health-related reasons." Under the terms of the agreement, Yarger was paid by the district until April 15, even though his resignation was submitted in mid-February.
The sudden resignation sparked public speculation, leading to a packed school board meeting. The speculation lead Juniata County District Attorney Cory Snook to open a police investigation relating to circumstances surrounding the resignation.
During the February school board meeting, Shawn Kovac, who serves as executive director of Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11, was named interim superintendent.
By the March school board meeting, Kovac recommended the board realign administration -- which was approved unanimously. The realignment eliminated the director of secondary education position -- which Apple held -- as well as the director of elementary education position -- which was held by Christie Holderman at the time.
Holderman was then assigned to an assistant superintendent position. Apple was not assigned to a new position, but remained on payroll.
In April, it was announced that Apple was not assigned to a new position because he was under investigation by the state police.
Kovac, who will be replaced as interim superintendent by Holderman on June 28, told The Sentinel on Friday, "The school district fully cooperated with the Pennsylvania State Police and the district attorney" in the police investigation, but had no other comments.
Attempts to contact Yarger and Apple on Friday were unsuccessful.