Leatherwood sentenced to 12 years for school theft

Some restitution, some insurance money and a hot dog cart

The tiny, makeshift courtroom at Webster Hall was packed to capacity Monday afternoon. School representatives sat on one side of the room, with Cannon Leatherwood’s family on the other side.

Leatherwood, who pled guilty to felony theft related to the embezzlement of RE1J Watershed School District funds, sat silently next to his attorney as Judge J. Steven Patrick laid out Leatherwood’s sentence: Twelve years imprisonment with the Colorado Department of Corrections, a second four-year sentence to be served concurrently, credit for time served and a minimum stay of five years.
Leatherwood was hired in 2006 to integrate 21st-century technology into local classrooms as part of a $55 million renovation of six school buildings in the district. He was fired from his position as IT director upon discovery of fraudulent billings issued by a company he’d set up, effectively stealing money from the district. He is also known in the community for a small, well-known local business, the Lucky Dog hot dog cart.
Prior to sentencing, Judge Patrick heard testimony from both attorneys, representatives of the RE1J School District and Leatherwood’s wife.
Jessica Waggoner, assistant district attorney, asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence of 18 years.
RE1J superintendent Doug Tredway repeated that request. “He lied on his application about previous felonies,” said Tredway, who explained that an error in the reporting system in Texas obscured Leatherwood’s criminal record. “I believe it was premeditated. He planned to steal from us and he did, $683,527 and 30 cents, that we can document. But we know there’s more.
“His dishonesty caused us to question the integrity of our district,” continued Tredway, “questioning our systems, reviewing our hiring practices, our vending practices. We were cutting staff in our district while Cannon was siphoning off more than $100,000 a year. Staff went six years without a raise. He looked us in the eye and stole from us. Students were victims. Programs were cut. There was no summer school and larger class sizes. Many of the students affected by this have now graduated. They can’t get that back.”