Pleasant Valley places embattled administrator on leave

Pleasant Valley Director of Support Services Joshua Krebs has been placed on administrative leave.

Friday afternoon Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso issued a press release announcing that Krebs is on leave for the duration of the wiretapping case which has been brought against him.

Krebs has been charged with eight felony counts related to wiretap and use of information in late December.

The charges stem from an incident in April of 2016 when Krebs and district technology coordinator Alex Strenchock placed a video/sound recorder in a break room at Pleasant Valley Elementary School to try to catch a custodian that was thought to be taking overly long breaks.

The cameras were discovered and reported to the building union representative and were removed.

Krebs allegedly had the recordings streamed to his phone.

The Monroe County District Attorney’s office began an investigation and last summer a grand jury was empaneled to review the evidence. In August the grand jury recommended that charges be brought against both Krebs and Strenchock. To date only Krebs has been charged.

Krebs had returned to work following his arrest; however following his preliminary hearing the conditions of his bail were revised to restrict his contact with possible witnesses in the case.

As of Friday Krebs has been placed on administrative leave.

“We have been advised by the school district that, in an effort to ensure the district is free from any threat of witness intimidation Joshua Krebs (a defendant in the pending wiretap case) has been placed on administrative leave for the duration of the case,” Mancuso said.

The investigation is ongoing into allegations of unlawful retaliation, official oppression, bribery and wiretap violations.

“The response of potential witnesses to this investigation has been encouraging,” Mancuso said. “We are requesting anyone who believes they have information pertinent to this matter contact Monroe County detective Wendy Serfass at 570 517-3063.”

He faces a formal arraignment on March 14 before Monroe County Judge Jonathan Mark.

Superintendent David Piperato was contacted regarding the district’s decision to place Krebs on leave.

Piperato said it is the district’s policy to not comment on personnel matters.

It is unknown if Krebs is being paid while on leave.