Trial date for six EPISD administrators accused in cheating scheme set

The trial date for six El Paso Independent School District administrators accused of taking part in a cheating scheme has been set for Aug. 15 by Judge David Briones. The group allegedly orchestrated a scheme to remove students from particular classes and falsify records to show they attended and passed.

Former EPISD Associate Superintendent Damon Murphy, former Austin High School Principal John Tanner, former Austin High Assistant Principal Mark Tegmeyer and former EPISD Superintendent for Secondary James Anderson are all charged with one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, with possible sentences of up to 20 years.

Anderson is also charged with making false statements to a federal investigator.
Tanner, Tegmeyer and former Austin High Assistant Principals Diane Thomas and Nancy Love are charged with conspiracy to retaliate against a witness, with a possible sentence of up to 10 years.

None of the six defendants were in the courtroom Friday morning at the Federal Courthouse in Downtown El Paso, instead being represented by their attorneys.

“This case may take awhile,” U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof told Briones, estimating “two to three weeks.”

Mary Stillinger, the attorney for Love, and Sherilyn Bunn, who is representing Thomas, told ABC-7 their clients maintain their innocence.