Kohala AD arrested for theft, criminal tampering

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A Kohala High School employee was arrested Thursday on suspicion of theft and criminal tampering. The state Department of Education on Friday confirmed Athletic Director Laurie Koustic was arrested and released pending investigation for fourth-degree theft and two counts of second-degree criminal tampering.

In a letter sent to parents, Principal Amy Stafford said the administration was aware of an “alleged employee misconduct incident” that took place on campus.

“The alleged incident will be investigated thoroughly and appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings. We respect the privacy of all of our staff members and ask for your patience during the investigation. While we are not able to discuss the details of this confidential personnel matter, we do want to assure you that the safety and well being of our students and staff is a top priority,” the letter states.

The DOE said Koustic has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the allegations.