Ex-School Official Makes Plea Bargain

Stephen A. Wagner has agreed to a plea bargain that would keep him from serving more than 10 years in federal prison, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

The agreement stipulates that Wagner, the former Newport-Mesa Unified School District finance officer, would serve his sentence concurrently with the six-year state prison term he is already serving for embezzlement.

Wagner, 41, will plead guilty to mail fraud and wire fraud charges at a Dec. 1 hearing before U.S. District Judge Linda McLaughlin, who will set a sentencing date. At sentencing, the U.S. attorney’s office will make a specific recommendation for the number of years Wagner should serve. McLaughlin, however, makes the final determination.

Wagner is accused of stealing $3.7 million from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Under the plea agreement filed in federal court, Wagner is still liable for up to $1 million in fines.