THROOP -- The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has filed charges against a former superintendent of a school district in Lackawanna County.
James Tallarico resigned from the Mid Valley School District earlier this year, he's now facing criminal charges.
Many students and parents in the district, which encompasses Throop, Olyphant, and Dickson City, have been wondering why their former superintendent abruptly resigned back in February after only a few years on the job.
According to paperwork filed by the state attorney general's office this month, Tallarico faces 22 separate counts on charges including theft and forgery.
Tallarico has not been arraigned yet, but officials with the attorney general's office tell Newswatch 16 that an arraignment has been scheduled for later this week. We won't know until that arraignment what specific charges Tallarico faces.
Mid Valley's current superintendent and school board members did not want to comment on the charges.
Taxpayers and parents in the district fear Tallarico could have taken advantage of district money.
"My grandchildren go to Mid Valley and it's a wonderful school and the sports and everything are wonderful for them. Their activities are great and I would not like to see that come to an end," said Joanne Jones of Olyphant
"That's one person. There are so many people in school districts that work their whole lifetime for the children and for the honor of the district and whatever and for one person to really put a black eye on everything, I don't think that's fair," said Jacqueline Myers of Mount Cobb.
We reached out to Tallarico and his attorney for comment on the charges, but we have not heard back. Tallarico is expected to be arraigned on those 22 counts on Wednesday morning in Scranton.