Former music teacher makes first court appearance in connection to missing funds
(KHGI) — A former longtime music teacher accused of stealing more than $200,000 from a show choir account appeared in front of a judge via video conference on Monday morning.
David S. Sackschewsky, 46, of Grand Island was arrested Friday in connection to complaints of suspicious transactions from Sept. 27, 2018 on the the 14 Karat Gold Show Choir account at Northwest High School.
In Monday’s appearance, Judge Art Wetzel set Sackschewsky’s bond at 10 percent of $10,000 for five felony charges. He will be represented by attorney Mark Porto, who said he was surprised at Sackschewsky’s sudden arrest ahead of a holiday weekend, saying his client had been cooperative with the investigation for months. Porto said he wasn’t sure why Sackschewsky wasn’t given the opportunity to turn himself in.
Sackschewsky was taken into custody by the Grand Island Police Department on the following charges related to that activity:
- Theft – Class 2A Felony
- Forgery – Class 2A Felony
- Forgery – Class 2A Felony
- Forgery – Class 4 Felony
- Forgery – Class 4 Felony
Sackschewsky was the Director of the 14 Karat Gold Show Choir at the time of the offenses, according to police.
The total monetary value of the five listed charges is $207,641.28.
The teacher, known to the community as “Mr. Shack” was in a serious car crash last fall.
Community members said Sackschewsky was well known for large musical productions at the school, which included a cast of hundreds.
This investigation is ongoing, and Sackschewsky is currently being held in the Hall County Jail.
(This story was originally reported by our partner station KHGI)
