FORMER RITCHIE SCHOOL SUPER FINED FOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS

(12/08/2012)
The West Virginia Ethics Commission has issued a public reprimand in a case involving the former superintendent of the Ritchie County school system.

The commission says Robert Daquilante used his position to make sure the person he wanted to be hired for the Ritchie County athletic director's job got the job.

The report says he also used his position to pay volunteer coaches in a way that did not comply with state regulations.

Daquilante, who now lives outside the state, signed a conciliation agreement, acknowledging the findings of the Ethics Commission while also defending his actions.

The Ethics Commission signed an order Thursday that includes a public reprimand for Daquilante and a $7,500 fine.

The investigation began back in Sept. 2009 when an ethics complaint was filed by a citizen after Patrick Allen was hired as Ritchie County athletic director in June 2009.

The investigation also found that Daquilante made sure that two volunteer coaches were paid for gas money in 2008.