School Board member who fought financial review teams indicted for theft

The Highland Park school board member who filed the Open Meetings Act lawsuits against the state's financial review process for Detroit, has been indicted for theft. The U-S Attorney’s office says Robert Davis sent fake bills to the district and stole thousands of dollars.

Davis faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Authorities say between 2004 and 2010, he stole more than $125,000 from the Highland Park School District by using cover companies to submit fake invoices to the district.

In one instance, Davis is accused of billing the district for almost $400,000 for advertising, while hiding his own involvement with the company and pocketing much of the payment.

The indictment was announced one day after Detroit reached a consent deal with the state. Davis played an active role in opposing the state finanicial review process by filing numerous Open Meeting challenges.