Former principal pleads guilty

Former Olive Branch Middle School principal Mike McCoy, accused of embezzling more than $10,000 from school accounts, has pleaded guilty to grand larceny and must pay restitution to the school district.

Earlier this month, McCoy, 44, entered his guilty plea, in which he admitted he stole more than $500 from DeSoto County Schools.

When McCoy pleaded guilty to grand larceny, his previous two- count embezzlement charge was remanded to file, which means it is still open and could come up again if new evidence warrants it.

The embezzlement charge stemmed from an indictment last year of McCoy; Audrey Brooke Phillips, the school’s former assistant principal; and Kelli McGowen, the school’s former bookkeeper. They were charged with conspiracy to embezzle and embezzlement by a public employee.

Last month, Phillips and McGowen were given pretrial diversion in the case, meaning no jail time and their records cleared if they complete the yearlong program for first-time nonviolent offenders.

McCoy, who faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for grand larceny, was sentenced to one day in jail but was given credit for having served one day while he awaited his trial. He was also put on five years’ probation, during which he must report to a parole officer for one year.

He must also repay the school district $10,000, in addition to $1,458 in fines and court costs.

Yolanda Jones ficials said.

Two students from the bus and two in the car were transported, according to DeSoto County Schools spokeswoman Katherine Nelson. Their conditions were not immediately known.

Nelson said the bus was fully loaded with 41 students, and the car was occupied by three high school students.

Those injured in the car were the driver and frontseat passenger.

The car received extensive damage, according to Nelson, and responders were on the scene shortly. Another bus was called to transport other students home.

Ron Maxey