Former Woodbury principal pleads guilty to stealing school money

The former principal of a Woodbury high school pleaded guilty Monday to stealing school funds for his personal use.

Aaron John Harper, who resigned abruptly in November 2014 from his job at East Ridge High School amid a police investigation, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by swindle. The Washington County attorney's office dismissed two other counts of theft by swindle in an agreement that could mean jail time for Harper and hold him accountable for restitution.

Washington County District Judge B. William Ekstrum set sentencing for Aug. 24.

Harper, 41, appeared briefly in a near-empty courtroom with his attorney, Peter Wold. The former principal acknowledged using a school purchasing card to buy softball equipment for youth teams unrelated to the school, and also taking money from a school "slush fund" for personal use.

When Wold asked Harper in court whether the school money "provided a personal financial benefit to you," Harper said yes. However, he added that he didn't agree with all the allegations against him.

After the hearing, Harper declined to comment and deferred to Wold.

"Mr. Harper is anxious to take responsibility," Wold said.

Harper was the first principal at East Ridge, which opened in 2009 on Woodbury's border with Cottage Grove. He spent long days making preparations at the school when it was under construction and led discussions on everything from carpeting to school colors and a team name.

The philosophy of the new school — which now has an enrollment of about 1,800 students in grades 9 to 12 — would be known as "the East Ridge way," he said.

The theft by swindle conviction, a felony, relates to money stolen from May 2013 through July 2014.