The controversy swirling around East Noble School Corporation’s former athletic director just took another twist — Nicholas David, who’s accused of stealing thousands from the district, is fighting back in federal court, claiming his constitutional rights were trampled.

David’s lawsuit, filed this month, alleges district administrators denied him due process when they investigated suspicious spending. He says they failed to notify him of his Garrity rights — a crucial protection for public employees under investigation.

What Are Garrity Rights Anyway?

For anyone scratching their head, Garrity rights basically shield government workers from self-incrimination during internal probes. It goes like this: you’re required to answer questions, but what you say can’t be used to nail you in a criminal trial.

In David’s case? He says East Noble bigwigs — including CFO Brian Leitch, High School Principal Kathryn Longenbaugh, and Superintendent Teresa Gremaux — never gave him that heads-up.

Now he’s suing the entire district plus those three officials, arguing the omission violated his rights.

A Trail of Suspicions

The allegations that started it all are no small potatoes. According to the Indiana State Board of Accounts report, David racked up around $5,000 in questionable spending.

Leitch flagged the concerns in 2023 after stumbling across an unapproved contract tied to the athletic department. That opened a whole can of worms:

• $2,800 in purchases allegedly linked to David’s family.

• Reports that he claimed mileage for trips he never took.

• A hotel stay for a friend — on the school’s dime.

Court docs say David admitted to at least some unauthorized spending. He called it an accident and begged for another shot. It didn’t work.

A Meeting, An Admission — and the Fallout

In a meeting with Leitch and Longenbaugh, David asked multiple times to keep his job, records show. But the district’s top brass made it clear: the Indiana State Board of Accounts and the Noble County Prosecutor’s Office would be looped in either way.

David tried to resign to dodge the fallout, but Leitch told him the investigation would roll on no matter what.

Criminal Charges Still Loom

This saga isn’t just a civil spat. David still faces two felonies: theft and official misconduct. Both carry the potential for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

According to the state report, the misappropriated funds included purchases from Sam’s Club for “office staff and students” — but those items allegedly ended up benefitting David’s family instead.

Big Names on the Lawsuit

Here’s who David is pointing fingers at in his lawsuit:

• East Noble School Corporation

• Brian Leitch, Chief Finance & Operations Officer

• Kathryn Longenbaugh, East Noble High School Principal

• Teresa Gremaux, Superintendent

He claims their failure to read him his Garrity rights means any info he gave in those meetings shouldn’t have been used against him. Whether the federal court will agree is another matter.

Bigger Than Just One District

Garrity rights don’t get much airtime in the public eye, but they matter — a lot — for teachers, police, firefighters, and other government employees. This case could be one to watch for school districts all over Indiana.

And for East Noble parents, the big question now is simple: Was it all mishandled? Or is this just a desperate legal move by a man trying to clear his name?

The answer will play out in courtrooms — criminal and civil — in the months ahead.