LOS ANGELES (KNX) — The former principal of Saugus High School pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to one felony each of perjury and conflict of interest connected to a student exchange program he helped facilitate with a school in China.
William Bolde, 65, was charged in December. Prosecutors alleged he helped set up the exchange program with a school in Gaoxin, China, and created a nonprofit organization to administer the program. The conflict of interest charge arose out of Bolde’s continued employment with the Santa Clarita high school while he had an employment agreement with the nonprofit.
The perjury charge arose from alleged falsehoods he made on disclosure forms.
“Those who break the law by putting their own best interest before the people they are supposed to serve will be held accountable for their actions,” L.A. County D.A. George Gascón said in a statement last month.
Bolde’s attorney described his client as “the epitome of class and commitment to the community,” and claimed the former school official received more than 100 letters of support from community members. Bolde spent roughly 14 years as principal of Saugus High.
Bolde will return to Downtown L.A. court in February for a hearing to determine whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
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