COVINGTON, La. — UPDATE: The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office clarified that the school resource officer arrested was fired before she was taken into custody and not after the arrest as previously reported.
On Monday, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office announced the termination and ultimate arrest of a school resource officer in connection with a theft investigation.
According to Sheriff Randy Smith, 38-year-old Andrea Baragona was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the following:
- L.R.S. 14:67B1 Theft Over 25,000 (felony)
- L.R.S.14:230E3 Money Laundering $20,000-$100,000 (felony)
- L.R.S. 14:70 False Accounting (misdemeanor)
- L.R.S. 14:132 Injuring Public Records (felony)
- L.R.S. 14:134 Malfeasance in Office (felony)
Baragona had been employed with the STPSO since April 2013, and Sheriff Smith said her alleged crimes did not involve the sheriff’s office or school Board funds.
“I hold all of our employees to the highest standard," said Sheriff Smith. "When a public servant breaks the law, that individual must face the consequences."
This investigation is ongoing and this story will be updated once further information becomes available.
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