Federal legal proceedings against former DeKalb County Schools superintendent Dr. Devon Horton are moving forward, with a judge setting a 10-day deadline for attorneys to agree on a trial date. Horton faces federal charges of embezzlement and fraud related to his tenure as superintendent of Evanston/Skokie School District 65 in Illinois, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. Lawyers had requested a mid-April 2027 trial, but the judge rejected the request due to scheduling conflicts.
According to the indictment, Horton allegedly approved fraudulent invoices that resulted in kickbacks, along with three associates who are also charged for securing contracts for services that were not delivered. Horton also faces separate allegations of domestic assault, though his wife declined to press charges, FOX 5 Atlanta noted.
Defense attorney Terry Campbell told 11Alive that obtaining documents through subpoenas is a key concern for the case. The judge suggested trial dates in the fall and dismissed requests for 2027. Federal prosecutors indicated readiness for a September or October trial, expected to last 3–4 weeks. A status call is scheduled in 30 days to finalize the trial date. Horton has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.
