Atlanta charter school founder accused of $800,000 theft could face more charges

Clemons faces 48 counts connected to Latin Academy case
ajc.com

Prosecutors will seek more charges against an Atlanta charter school founder who already faces 48 counts of theft and forgery linked to an alleged theft of roughly $800,000.

Christopher Clemons, the 38-year-old founder of the now-closed Latin Academy Charter School, has been jailed for more than a year as he awaits resolution of a Fulton County Superior Court case stemming from an investigation into the school’s finances.

A deputy district attorney told a judge Wednesday there's more to come. 

The state plans to present additional charges to a grand jury in the next week or so, said Fulton County deputy district attorney Brad Malkin, of the white collar crime unit.

Those potential new charges are linked to an alleged $350,000 Clemons embezzled from Latin Grammar School and Latin College Preparatory School, two other schools he founded.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported in 2015 that money was transferred from the schools to a nonprofit foundation created by Clemons.

Latin Grammar and the middle school Latin College Preparatory continue to work with authorities on the ongoing investigation, said attorney Christopher Adams, who represents both schools, in a written statement.

Latin Academy closed in 2016 amid financial troubles.