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A former Waipahu elementary school principal who changed her not-guilty plea and pleaded no contest to record-tampering charges in Circuit Court this morning was ordered to pay a fine.
The state Attorney General’s office had charged Florentina Smith with two counts of tampering with a government record, a misdemeanor. Smith, 69, was sentenced by Judge Patrick Border, according to her attorney, Eric Seitz.
Seitz said the pleas have been deferred and Smith will make a $500 contribution to the state’s general fund.
The state alleged the crimes were committed on Nov. 12, 2011, and the following week on Nov. 19, while Smith was serving as principal of August Ahrens Elementary. The complaint did not include any details of the alleged crimes.
Smith last month had pleaded not guilty to the charges and her case was scheduled to head to a jury trial.
She had been placed on administrative leave in January 2012 as the state investigated allegations against her. Sources told the Star-Advertiser at the time that Smith was investigated for allegedly directing a teacher to file a per diem reimbursement claim for training that did not occur.
Seitz said Smith explained to the judge that she had made efforts to get compensation for some of her teachers who were doing extra work but couldn’t get paid for it.
The payments amounted to $200 for each of nine staff members.
Smith’s employment with the Department of Education ended in September 2012. She had worked for the DOE since 1971.
