New Trier Employee Charged With Stealing From School, Parents

NORTHFIELD, Ill. (STMW) -- Police say a north suburban school employee used his position to steal more than $2,600 from the school district and some of its parents, PIoneer Press is reporting.

According to Northfield police, Timothy B. Barfield, 59, of 921 Elmwood St. in Evanston was arrested Oct. 11 at New Trier High School's Northfield campus at 7 S. Happ Road.

Barfield, New Trier's transportation coordinator, allegedly took payments for bus transportation services in the form of cash and checks made out directly to him from district parents, according to police.

The arrest was made after school officials met with police Oct. 8 to discuss money that was never turned in to the business office after one parent brought to light payments made directly to Barfield, police said.

"It is an ongoing investigation," Northfield Deputy Police Chief Claude Casaletto said. "I can confirm that he was arrested."

According to police, one parent contacted the school Sept. 25 for a refund of a payment made to Barfield and New Trier officials discovered no record of the transaction in the business office.

"It was actually the New Trier officials who contacted our school resources officer," Casaletto said.

Northfield police said as many as six parents have claimed to have paid Barfield directly for bus services, transactions the high school was not aware of.

Additionally, police accuse Barfield of chartering New Trier buses out for wedding parties and billing the district for expenses.

Barfield was charged with felony theft over $500, and was released on a $1,000 bond. His next court appearance is Oct. 17 in Skokie.

The school district would not comment on the arrest.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)