Former Philly teacher pleads to stealing computers

March 09, 2011|By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Inquirer Staff Writer

Kathleen Kremis' voice cracked as she described her love for teaching.

That nine-year career ended Tuesday after Kremis, 35, pleaded guilty, with her ex-husband, to stealing 45 laptop computers from her elementary school to help pay for her heroin habit.

Kremis, who taught at Ethan Allen School in the Northeast, and Thomas Perry, 38, each pleaded guilty to theft and conspiracy before Common Pleas Court Judge Lillian H. Ransom.

Under a plea deal outlined by Assistant District Attorney Terri Domski, each was sentenced to six to 14 months in custody, followed by four years of probation.

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Kremis will spend her time in drug rehab as an inpatient at Eagleville Hospital. Perry, who faces double hip-joint replacement surgery and uses a walker, will be on house arrest.

"I am so sorry for my students and the School District," said Kremis, weeping. "I loved being a teacher."

Perry's attorney, Stephen B. Jarrett, read a letter in which Perry apologized for the thefts and blamed them on financial pressures caused by his health problems.

Kremis and Perry were arrested in October at his home in the 3600 block of Miller Street in Port Richmond.

The thefts of the computers - mostly Apple laptops - were discovered in August when a pawnshop owner called police. He told police he had been buying computers from Kremis since the previous November but became worried when he peeled off flower-shaped stickers and found seals saying the laptops were the property of the School District.

The couple were paid about $5,000 for the computers, police said.

Domski said all 45 laptops were recovered and 41 were put back into use at Allen. Kremis was ordered to reimburse the district $1,892 for the four damaged computers and repairs to others.

Kremis' drug habit was apparently long-standing, though school officials said they saw no signs of it at Allen.

Kremis' attorney, Constance Clarke, said Kremis had been sober since Jan. 9 and regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

Nevertheless, Ransom granted Domski's request that Perry undergo regular drug testing. Domski noted that Perry is prescribed Oxycodone, a narcotic, for his hip pain and that Kremis was also abusing that drug when she was arrested.


Contact staff writer Joseph A. Slobodzian at 215-854-2985 or jslobodzian@phillynews.com.

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