By Adam Allington, KWMU
Clayton, MO – Henry Williams, the fired superintendent of the Riverview Gardens School District, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Monday.
Williams had been facing up to 37 years for the theft of over $100,000 from the struggling urban district.
Given the severity of the crimes, St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch says the sentence is far too lax.
"I think it's a terrible sentence," says McCulloch. "We were recommending that this guy go to the penitentiary. He stole over $100,000 and to get sentenced to 30 days in the county jail is just terribly inappropriate."
Williams pleaded no contest to the charges of felony theft and tax evasion last year.
Williams was ordered to pay back that sum, but McCulloch says the former superintendent has a gambling problem and has already lost all the money and apparently was not able to come up with the $5,000 bond money on his own.
"Well he's a big gambler, and we were able to follow the records on the gambling votes and see where he lost tons of money gambling."
The county prosecutor had requested at least a five year prison term. Williams is scheduled to be making restitution payments on February 15th, if he misses a payment his parole could be revoked and result in a prison sentence.
According to Williams' attorney, the sentence of 30 days was the result of negotiations with the judge.