Second arrest announced in alleged school-theft scheme near Titusville

An ongoing investigation into Brevard Public Schools inventory has netted a second arrest.

Dale Alan Gunther, a 55-year-old transportation specialist with the school district, was arrested Tuesday after a meeting between Brevard County Sheriff ’s Office investigators and accountants from the school board to go over suspicious purchases.

Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey says police executed a search warrant in the Titusville area in connection with Gunther’s arrest.

“We recovered a significant amount of stolen property, property that was pur- chased through the fleet, used and misappropriated for their own use or sold,” said Ivey. Ivey added that the value of the goods was “about $10,000.”

The Titusville man was charged with grand theft and scheming to defraud and was booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex where he is being held today on a $30,000 bond, records show.

“It has been determined that … (Gunther) did utilize his position with the Brevard County School Board to order personal items for his own benefit and with the use of school board funds,” an arrest warrant reads.

The items included everything from synthetic oil for vehicles, degreaser, parts for a Jeep Wrangler and even a box tent for a Ford F-150 pickup truck. One item billed to the district included a steering column for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The school district does not use motorcycles, Jeeps or box tents.

Investigators said Gunther’s arrest follows the discovery of what agents describe as a “theft ring” operated by longtime school district employees.

The first arrest came earlier this month. Edward Strobush, 57, also of Titusville, was charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property as part of what investigators described as a conspiracy to steal goods meant to be used by the school district.