Paul Baloche
Chris Lentz, vice principal and athletic director at Ocean City High School, was arrested Aug. 4 on charges of official misconduct and computer criminal activity.
The complaint for the Aug. 4 arrest of Ocean City High School Vice Principal and Athletic Director Christine Lentz suggests investigators believe she sought confidential documents "to gain a benefit in ongoing school contractual negotiations."
Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor on Wednesday announced the arrest of Lentz on charges of official misconduct and computer criminal activity. In a written news release, Taylor alleged that Lentz accessed the Ocean City School District email of Superintendent Kathleen Taylor without authorization between April 1 and June 1.
But the prosecutor would not comment further on any potential motive for the alleged crime.
The information on the alleged attempt to gain an advantage in negotiations came from a summons-complaint provided to OCNJ Daily on Friday as a result of an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request.
OCNJ Daily had sought the affidavit that outlines the reasons (in detail) investigators believe there is probable cause that an offense was committed. The Prosecutor's Office denied the request, suggesting that the affidavit is "an open criminal investigative document."
In New Jersey, investigatory records are not public during ongoing investigations. In most cases, affidavits are released once criminal charges are filed.
The prosecutor did, however, say on Wednesday that the investigation is ongoing, an indication that the probe possibly could extend beyond Taylor.
The complaint that was released reads, in part:
"(The suspect) engaged in official misconduct as a public servant by committing an act related to her office but constituting an unauthorized exercise of her official functions, with the purpose to obtain a benefit for herself knowing that such act was committed in an unauthorized manner, specifically by on diverse dates between 04/01/2015 and 06/01/2015, Christine Lentz, an Ocean City vice principal/athletic director, did access the private school email files of Superintendent Kathleen Taylor ..."
Lentz, 53, whose annual was $123,197 after a 30-year-career in the district, apparently is accused of seeking further advantage in future contracts.
She is a past president of the Cape-Atlantic Principals and Supervisors Association, which is part of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.
The Ocean City Board of Education accepted Lentz’s retirement effective July 1 during a special meeting on July 9.
Official misconduct is a second-degree crime, subject to a prison term of five to 10 years. Computer criminal activity is a third-degree crime with a possible prison term of three to five years.
The Ocean City School District does not keep records on pensions for retired employees — the state administers the pension system for teachers. It's not clear yet if Lentz has applied for pension benefits or how they might be affected.
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