From dailylocal.com

Two former Coatesville Area School District officials were charged with felony theft charges Monday following a lengthy probe stemming from last year’s administrative texting scandal.

After more than a year of investigating, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced the findings of an investigative grand jury and announced criminal charges against former superintendent Richard Como and former high school Director of Athletics and Activities Jim Donato, who were caught exchanging racially and sexually offensive text messages in August 2013.

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Harrisburg attorney James Ellison was solicitor for the Coatesville school district for more than a decade before being replaced in October 2013.

On October 21, 2013 Chester County DA Thomas P. Hogan issued a press release announcing "The CASD Board and its Solicitor appear to be attempting to obstruct, evade, and delay this investigation."

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Chester County 18th Investigating Grand Jury's Report Coatesville Area School District.

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James Ellison ethics violation.

Order No. 1600

(Ellison) Decided: April 12, 2012 Issued: April 27, 2012.

A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §1103(a), occurred when James Ellison, as Chairman of The Harrisburg Authority, participated in discussions which resulted in the hiring of a lawyer employed by Rhoads & Sinon, LLP, to serve as counsel for The Harrisburg Authority, at a time when Ellison was both a Member of The Harrisburg Authority and an equity partner of Rhoads & Sinon, LLP, and a violation of Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act also occurred when Ellison signed checks resulting in payments being issued to Rhoads & Sinon, LLP.

Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Ellison is directed to make payment in the amount of $2,297.95 as follows: (a) $1,297.95 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of the Commission’s Order; and (b) $1,000.00 in reimbursement representing a portion of the expenses and costs incurred by the Commission in the investigation and administrative prosecution of the instant matter, payable by certified check or money order made payable to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission.

Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Ellison is further directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment form The Harrisburg Authority representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.

Compliance of the Commission Order will result in the closing of this case with no further action by the Commission.

Photo/Dani Fresh file 2012