East Texas

HENDERSON — Former Overton Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Stretcher pleaded guilty Friday in the Fourth District Court to theft of property by a public servant, a third-degree felony.

In the plea agreement, Stretcher was sentenced by Judge J. Clay Gossett to five years deferred adjudication and ordered to make full restitution to Overton ISD of an amount to be determined by the court.

Officials said Gossett voluntarily surrendered his Texas educator certificate.

The plea proceeding took place at the request of his attorney, Robert Perkins of Tyler, in an agreement with Rusk County District Attorney Michael E. Jimerson.

“They felt they could dispose of this case before the next grand jury would go into session next week,” said William Brown, an investigator for the district attorney’s office.

A district audit last year revealed possible missing Overton ISD funds and Texas Education Agency began an investigation.

About two weeks ago, TEA forwarded its findings report to the district attorney’s office.

TEA’s investigation uncovered “an assortment of things (involving) theft of taxpayer money from Overton ISD,” Brown said. “Different fundraisers were conducted and the money never deposited and there was an allegation of misuse and abuse of school district credit cards for personal use.”

According to Brown, the district attorney’s office reviewed TEA’s report and determined the case would be on the docket for the next grand jury.

“Stretcher was aware that had taken place, contacted a private attorney and that attorney proffered up this” proposed plea agreement, Brown said. “Everybody agreed that would be the best way to go.”

Stretcher resigned unexpectedly last January, citing personal reasons.

He had served as Overton ISD superintendent since 2002, having come to Overton from a position as professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University at Commerce. Previously, he served as superintendent of school districts in Mount Vernon, Hico and Windhorst.