LISBON, Ohio - EDITOR'S NOTE: This case has been dismissed as of 7-11-2024. All charges have been dismissed.

The man hired as Leetonia’s next school superintendent has been released from jail on a $10,000 bond and ordered by a judge to have no contact with the East Palestine Schools.

Gerald "Tony" DelBoccio of Poland, who turns 44 next week, was arraigned in Columbiana County Municipal Court on a theft charge Monday.

According to a criminal complaint, DelBoccio is accused of taking $4,300 worth of televisions, iPads, and other computer equipment from East Palestine Schools last Wednesday.

Security video from inside the school shows DelBoccio entering a door with a backpack on and carrying an empty black bag in his hands. Sometime later DelBoccio is seen leaving the school form the same door with the black bag full and what appears to be two "apple mac books" in his hand, according to the police report. 

Police say after the equipment was found in DelBoccio's car two days later, he admitted that he had taken it home, but was going to return it to the East Palestine School’s IT department.

DelBoccio was recently passed over after he applied for the East Palestine Schools Superintendent position. He submitted his resignation with his last day dated as July 31 but he is now on paid administrative leave pending the police investigation. 

"As always, our focus is on providing every student within our district a safe and positive learning environment," the East Palestine School District said in a statement. 

The Leetonia Board of Education voted on May 31^st to give DelBoccio a three-year contract as superintendent beginning August 1, 2024. The Board would not comment on if he will still become superintendent but will have a special meeting on Wednesday, June 12 to discuss. 

DelBoccio is scheduled to appear in court again one week from now.