Ex-school district worker charged in software purchase
JANESVILLE — The former information technology manager for the Janesville School District has appeared in Rock County Court but has not yet been arrested.
His court appearance Monday surprised Janesville police, who as of Tuesday morning thought they still were looking for Brandon M. Keirns, 31, Milwaukee.
Keirns made his initial court appearance with attorney Trish Arreazola. He was released on a signature bond until his next hearing Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Although he’s been court, Keirns as of Tuesday had not yet been photographed and fingerprinted at the police department, Lt. Tim Hiers said.
Keirns was wanted on suspicion of buying $215,000 worth of computer software from companies he or his friend owned. He is charged with two felony counts of being a public employee entering into a contract with private interests. State statutes prohibit public employees from arranging contracts for their employer that benefit themselves.
Keirns is accused of transferring money the school district paid the companies into his personal bank account and using some money to buy a condo.
Janesville police announced to the public last week that Keirns was wanted on an arrest warrant and that police were looking for him in the Milwaukee area.
Keirns, who was hired in December 2007, resigned in November 2008 after a computer virus crippled school district computers for weeks.
If convicted, Keirns faces a maximum of three years and six months in prison and a $10,000 fine for each charge.
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Nov 5, 2009 at 1:20 p.m.
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My guess is that if he would have "turned himself in" on Thursday or Friday, he would have sat in the Milwaukee County Jail over the weekend (Over Halloween weekend at that), for something that could have waited until Monday to be resolved.
Nov 5, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.
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I'm curious as to why it took him so long to turn himself in?
Nov 5, 2009 at 10:39 a.m.
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Flight risk? The bum basically turned himself in. I am sure he did this to support his family and put food on the table, because that would make it right......
Nov 5, 2009 at 6:45 a.m.
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Because ... that's just dumb. He voluntarily came to court. Jail cells are for people who are dangerous and who do not VOLUNTARILY SHOW UP FOR COURT.
Nov 4, 2009 at 10:42 p.m.
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Why just a signature bond for this guy? His world is crashing down around him, and is young and stupid. Seems like a flight risk to me.
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