Three indicted for misusing funds while associated with Dora schools

PORTALES — A former school superintendent was among three indicted Monday by a Roosevelt County grand jury for misusing funds while associated with the Dora Consolidated School District in 2016.

Indictments were returned against Steve Barron of Elida and Steven and Amy Butler of Dora as part of a joint prosecution from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and the Ninth Judicial District.

These cases came to light in 2017 after the state auditor issued a special audit report identifying 13 areas in which the three allegedly used public funds to, among other things, enter into illegal contracts.

“The Dora community has been waiting a very long time for this case to begin moving forward in the criminal justice system,” District Attorney Andrea Reeb said. “I am thankful to the Attorney General for providing the manpower and resources to complete this investigation, and I look forward to the continued partnership during the prosecution phase.”

The 2017 auditor’s report identified more than $100,000 in potentially mismanaged funds between 2013 and 2016, including $41,000 in janitorial supplies and $37,000 in recyclables redeemed by an employee.

Barron, 52, was placed on leave after the report was made public, and was eventually bought out in a $184,000 settlement. He faces one charge of making or permitting a false public voucher.

A person who answered a call placed to Barron’s home said he was out of town and would not be reachable for a few days.

Barron’s attorney, Dan Lindsey, noted that his client went through his school board and district auditor for all matters connected to the case and there was no evidence he profited from the matter following a subpoena of his financial records.

“He did not get enough bids on a contract,” Lindsey said. “He’s not a lawyer, and they indicted him for that. He is innocent of these charges. Procurement code is so convoluted there are hundreds of things you could make a mistake on.”

Steven Butler, 52, faces 10 charges in connection to the case, including three counts of fraud, two counts of making or permitting a false public voucher, forgery, embezzlement and racketeering.

Amy Butler, 53, is charged with embezzlement between $500 and $2,500.

No attorney is listed for the Butlers under court records. There was no answer on a phone call placed to a number listed for the Butlers.

Following release of the report, four of the Dora school board’s five members resigned.

“It is a betrayal of public trust that those entrusted with public funds to ensure proper functioning of a school district chose to use their positions to pilfer those funds,” Attorney General Hector Balderas said in the district release. “We hope to help rebuild public trust by holding these individuals accountable for these alleged acts and recovering the money they unlawfully stole.”