Former St. Francis Principal to Be Back in Court for Embezzlement Next Month

By Kimberly Houghton
Union Leader
May 19, 2017

http://www.unionleader.com/Former-St.-Francis-principal-to-be-back-in-court-next-month

A local judge will consider next month whether the former principal at St. Francis of Assisi School, accused of stealing more than $152,000 from the private school in Litchfield, is now competent to stand trial.

It has been nearly four years since Shannon Dannible, 40, of Amesbury, Mass., was indicted on a felony count of unauthorized taking or transfer in connection with the alleged embezzlement; she has been free on bail since her arrest several years ago. Last August, Judge Jacalyn Colburn deemed that Dannible was incompetent to stand trial, but said at the time that if Dannible continued attending psychotherapy and treatment, her competency may potentially be restored within the year.

Dannible allegedly stole $152,468 from the Catholic school’s bank accounts by issuing herself checks, withdrawing cash for herself and directing school funds to pay off personal debts during a four-year period when she was an administrator at the school from 2007-2011.

If found guilty, she could face 7 ? to 15 years in prison. According to court records, Dannible has ongoing mental health issues, and has been receiving counseling for dissociative identity disorder, stress, depression and personality disorder.

A revaluation hearing was originally scheduled for last week at Hillsborough County Superior Court, but the hearing to discuss her competency has been rescheduled to June 2, according to court records. Dannible was evaluated on April 28 by the state’s medical expert, Dr. Albert Drukteinis.

“To date, the state has not received all of the defendant’s medical records necessary for Dr. Drukteinis to complete his report regarding the defendant’s competency,” Ben Agati, senior assistant attorney general, wrote in newly filed court documents, adding the state has yet to obtain the defense’s expert report on Dannible’s competency.

Colburn agreed to postpone the court hearing for one month.

In her previous ruling that determined Dannible was incompetent to stand trial last June, Colburn raised concerns about Dannible’s honesty.

“The court is aware that the defendant has been known to lie about serious matters, including having cancer. As such, the veracity of her allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment, which serve as the basis for her post-traumatic stress disorder, is questionable,” wrote Colburn. “This is especially so given the somewhat convenient timing of those disclosures and the lack of any verification.”

Allegations about Dannible being sexually abused by a priest when she was 7 years old, being bullied and harassed by a work supervisor, being involved in a motor-vehicle accident that resulted in a brain injury and being raped while in college were also unveiled in court documents.

At least two medical professionals have testified that Dannible suffers from PTSD, while others say she has mental health ailments such as multiple personality disorder.

Contact: khoughton@newstote.com