GEORGETOWN, Del. - A former principal at Sussex Central High School is facing multiple criminal charges after investigators say she submitted falsified documents to pay a paraprofessional more than $15,000 in unauthorized overtime and travel reimbursements.
Judith Brittingham, 46, of Lewes, returned a warrant on March 19 on charges of official misconduct, theft and forgery. The Delaware Department of Justice alleges Brittingham arranged improper payments to an Indian River School District paraprofessional between April 2022 and May 2023, during a period when she was in a romantic relationship with the employee.
According to prosecutors, Brittingham falsely claimed the paraprofessional provided in-home tutoring during off-hours. In reality, the tutoring occurred during regular school hours, and Brittingham filed 159 false overtime shifts totaling more than $15,000 in unearned pay.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said Brittingham’s actions damaged public trust and harmed honest public employees.
"No one is above the law or beneath justice,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “Public employees who break the law are harming taxpayers, themselves, and good public servants whose work is undermined when the public trust is eroded. I am grateful to our prosecutors and the Delaware State Police for their dedication as we move forward with this case.”
Investigators believe Brittingham submitted the reimbursement forms without his knowledge or consent.
The payments came to light in 2024 when the school’s personnel director informed Brittingham that the district was aware of her relationship with the paraprofessional and that both would be subject to an internal investigation. Brittingham then disclosed the falsified payments, triggering the state’s criminal investigation.
The school district has responded to the charges saying, "The Indian River School District initiated an internal investigation and notified all agencies involved when it was made aware of alleged improprieties by Dr. Brittingham. Additionally, we fully cooperated with the law enforcement investigation of this matter. Dr. Brittingham resigned her position in June 2024 and is no longer employed by the Indian River School District. Efforts to recoup the funds at issue are in process."
Judith Brittingham, 46, of Lewes, returned a warrant on March 19 on charges of official misconduct, theft and forgery. (Delaware Department of Justice)
The Indian River Board of Education approved Brittingham to serve as the acting principal of Sussex Central High School at an Aug. 16, 2023 meeting. Brittingham has previously been a principal in the Indian River School District and is a former assistant principal at Sussex Central.
Another former principal, Bradley Layfield, was fired for showing fight surveillance video to staff. The video contained a student's breast being exposed and was compared to the SuperBowl incident with Janet Jackson.