TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - A former Tift County High School principal faces 10 years of probation for stealing school money.

Dr. Chad Stone accepted a guilty plea in court to four charges including theft by deception and unauthorized use of a financial transaction card. He admitted to taking approximately $20,000 from the school district during his time as principal.

School officials said Stone’s actions ultimately cost Tift County Schools more than $500,000.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former Tift County High School principal arrested again

Chief Judge Bill Reinhardt sentenced Stone to 10 years of probation and ordered him to pay restitution to the school district.

Judge Reinhardt acknowledged Stone’s age and clean record in explaining why he didn’t impose prison time.

“There’s no question in my mind as it relates to the sentencing. On paper, this is not a prison case. 52 years old, never been in trouble in their life,” Judge Reinhardt said.

Judge Reinhardt also emphasized Stone’s betrayal of trust.

“They put you in charge to run this institution and were met with this... You violated the trust they placed in you,” Judge Reinhardt told Stone.

Stone did not speak during the hearing.

The Tift County School System

School Board Chair Jonathan Jones read a victim impact statement during court. The statement detailed the financial fallout from Stone’s theft and the subsequent investigation.

“The financial consequences for the school system exceed over half a million dollars,” the statement read.

Those costs Jones read included a superintendent buy-out, hiring interim and permanent replacements for both the superintendent and principal positions, external audits of every school, a new centralized bookkeeping system and extensive staff retraining. The board said Stone’s paid leave during the investigation also added to the costs.

Community Support

One student, a coworker to Stone and members of Stone’s family, including his children, spoke in support of the former principal. They told Judge Reinhardt that Stone made mistakes but those errors don’t erase his commitment to family and students.

Judge Reinhardt acknowledged the support.

“There’s no question in my mind you love the school system. You’re invested in the people there. It’s unbelievable the amount of support you have,” the judge said.

The Charges

Prosecutors indicted Stone on seven charges including three counts of unauthorized use of a financial transaction card, three counts of false statements and one count of theft by deception. Stone pled guilty to four of those charges Thursday, Jan. 15.

Timeline of Events

The case began in late 2023 when accountability conversations with school system leadership escalated into an external conflict.

The Tift County Board of Education placed Stone on paid administrative leave in January 2024 during an ethics investigation by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The commission found probable cause that Stone violated multiple ethical standards and recommended suspension of his teaching certificate.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested Stone in February 2024 on state charges. He resigned from his role as principal shortly before that arrest. Stone was arrested again in May 2024 on additional state charges.

State prosecutors later took up the case, leading to the Jan. 16 guilty plea and sentencing.

Moving Forward

The board emphasized that school leaders are held to a higher standard of accountability.

“The actions of a school leader are subject to an even higher standard of accountability, given their position and the significant trust vested in school principals and administrators by the community,” the statement read. “The Tift County School System and the Board of Education are ready for the final chapter of accountability to be written, so that this storybook in our history can be closed.”

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