"It makes me feel pretty bad knowing that I can't even trust my own teachers."
- Dakota High School student
29 year old teacher Lydia Johnson was in 41-A District Court in Shelby Township on one count of embezzlement from a nonprofit organization: a $1,000 to $20,000, a felony that carries up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Photo of Lydia Johnson (courtesy of Macomb County Sheriff's Office)
Johnson served as the school's student activity director, whence she gained access to monies she would use to feed her gambling addiction.
As if the crime itself isn't bad enough, it turns out that Johnson used the money she had stolen at a casino. Reports state that she spent over $90,000 to play penny slots last year at Detroit's MGM Grand Casino.
The money was being saved by the school to help pay for field trips and homecoming.