Sure, Harriette Walters might have stolen upwards of $44 million from the District’s coffers, but at least she wasn’t stealing directly from low-income school children.

According to a WTOP report this morning, District officials have arrested and charged a city official with submitting false expense reports totaling $11,385 for big bills at local restaurants and strip clubs. Emerson Crawley, a program manager at After School for All at Shaw Junior High School, allegedly spent the money, from a fund intended for low-income school children, between 2003 and 2005, including a $1,200 tab at Finemondo’s Italian Restaurant and $472 at Camelot Show Club. If convicted, Crawley would face up to 17 years in jail and $1.7 million in fines, not to mention the life-long stigma of having stolen directly from low-income school children.

We’re still checking with Harry Jaffe to see how Crawley’s alleged crimes fit in with his odd theory concerning women and corruption cases. We’re guessing his next column will be titled “Scandal Reveals Men Love to Steal — And Go To Strip Clubs.”

Photo by Kerstin