Former DeKalb superintendent faces child cruelty and strangulation charges
The DeKalb County School District announced that 2025 Career, Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) graduates attained a 98 percent graduation rate, with Arabia Mountain, Redan, and Tapestry Charter high schools leading the district with each garnering 100 percent CTAE pathway graduation rates. The post Former DeKalb superintendent faces child cruelty and strangulation charges appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.
Key Points:
• Former DeKalb schools superintendent Devon Q. Horton booked on child cruelty charges.
• Horton was booked around 1:38 p.m. on Jan. 17.
• Horton was indicted on 17 wire fraud and embezzlement charges in October.
Devon Q. Horton, the former DeKalb County School District superintendent, was booked at the DeKalb County Jail on Jan. 17 on child cruelty and strangulation charges, according to jail records.
Horton was booked around 1:38 p.m. on Saturday, and charged with cruelty to children in the third degree and aggravated assault, strangulation. It’s unclear if Horton has been released.
The former superintendent has been mired in controversy over the last several months. On Oct. 9, the U.S. Attorney issued an indictment for the Stone Mountain husband and father that entailed 17 charges for acts he allegedly committed while serving as the superintendent of Evanston-Skokie School District 65 in Illinois.
Between 2021 and 2023, the lengthy indictment alleges that Horton accepted and approved contracts with business partners that he would financially benefit from, to the tune of more than $85,000 in kickbacks. Horton and his co-defendants are to appear in an Illinois court on Feb. 4.
Horton resigned after the indictment announcement, and DeKalb County Board of Education has begun the procurement process for an independent financial audit of Horton’s purchases and financial documents while serving as superintendent.
Related Stories:
• DeKalb parents seek to repair ‘systemic failure’ after superintendent’s resignation
• U.S. Attorney issues 17-count indictment alleging DeKalb Superintendent committed fraudulent acts in former job
Parents expressed concern about the overall leadership at the board and executive level after Horton’s charges were announced in October.
“There’s a systemic failure in the governance and accountability of that board. This change in leadership is going to be necessary to restore trust to the public,” Jeannette Fusia, whose daughter attends Smoke Rise Elementary.
Horton’s children previously attended Smoke Rise Elementary. The DeKalb County Police Department has not confirmed details about Horton’s arrest as of 7:45 p.m. Jan. 17.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
The post Former DeKalb superintendent faces child cruelty and strangulation charges appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.
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