John Shimonsky, a former career military officer, became the center of controversy after the East Penn School District rescinded his hiring for a high-paying leadership role following revelations about his criminal case. Shimonsky, 49, of Wescosville, had been approved in October for the position of director of information technology, a role with an annual salary of $95,000, contingent upon the successful completion of mandatory background checks. However, a red flag during the criminal history review halted the process and ultimately led the school board to withdraw his candidacy.
The issue stemmed from Shimonsky’s arrest earlier in the year in connection with a car purchase involving a bad check. According to court records, authorities allege that Shimonsky falsified information on a credit application and purchased a 2007 Ford Fusion from Kelly Ford in Emmaus in March using a check for $12,842 that later bounced. Police said Shimonsky initially told them he would return the vehicle, but he failed to do so despite repeated requests from both the dealership and law enforcement. He was eventually stopped by Berks-Lehigh Regional police on April 30 and charged with multiple offenses, including theft by deception, receiving stolen property, writing a bad check, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Shimonsky spent nearly a month in Lehigh County Prison before posting $30,000 bail on May 30. In September, he pleaded guilty to passing a bad check, a misdemeanor. As part of his sentence, Judge Robert Steinberg ordered him to serve one year of probation, pay a $500 fine, provide $2,446 in restitution to Kelly Ford, and submit to random drug testing. All other charges were withdrawn as part of the plea agreement.
At the time of his school district approval, John Shimonsky had presented a résumé highlighting an extensive military and academic background. He stated that he served in the Air Force from 1976 to 1996, including time as a director of communications, and later worked with the Army, claiming to have served as chief information officer from 2000 to 2007. He also reported holding master’s degrees from the University of Maryland and Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Despite these credentials, the unresolved criminal matter became a decisive factor in the district’s hiring decision.
The East Penn School Board unanimously voted not to complete Shimonsky’s hiring during a meeting in which the matter was added as an agenda addendum after the public session. The board did not discuss the issue publicly or identify Shimonsky by name, stating only that it was accepting the withdrawal of a candidate. District officials declined to comment on the specifics, citing personnel confidentiality, and emphasized that all employees must pass state and federal criminal background checks as well as child abuse history clearances.
John Shimonsky later claimed that he was told his hiring would have proceeded if news of his arrest had not been reported publicly. He also said the bad check resulted from an email lottery scam that led him to believe he had sufficient funds in his bank account. District officials declined to address those claims. The case has since highlighted the critical role of background checks in public sector hiring and the challenges institutions face when legal issues surface during the recruitment process.
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