Denise Birdwell has entered a plea agreement with a misdemeanor charge in a case brought against her by Arizona.
Birdwell, who was a superintendent in both the Higley and Scottsdale Unified school districts, was originally indicted on 23 felony counts, including fraud and conflicts of interest.
She was a superintendent at the Higley and Scottsdale Unified School Districts. Birdwell’s original indictment only covered her time at the Higley Unified School District.
Police said she hired someone unqualified for a position and was accused of accepting thousands of dollars in unreported payments from builders and contractors.
As part of her plea agreement, Birdwell pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. The agreement calls for probation and $2,500 in fines plus penalties.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to correct what the original indictment covered and what she was accused of.
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