Berkeley High’s "Esteemed" Lead Safety Officer Used a Teacher's Account to Pay His Utility Bills

Billy Keys, 41, was a highly regarded Berkeley High security officer who was known for stopping troubled kids in the hall to check-in. But that image was shattered last week when he was arrested for identity theft, said the Oakland Tribune.  

His curious choice of theft was not diamonds, expensive champage, or even an extravagant online shopping spree. Instead he took a huge risk, and now may face jail-time, order to pay his utility bills. He “stole bank information from a special-education teacher at the school and used it to pay his December utility bills” according to the Oakland Tribune.

Keys initially cited confusion as the reason for the wrongdoing, saying that when he paid his phone and PG&E bills, he must have “mixed up the property with his own personal property.” But he later admitted that he knew it was another teacher's account.  

The Berkeley Unified School District is also conducting an investigation in addition to the one being led by the Berkeley Police Department. According to the Oakland Tribune,Keys was arraigned Friday and is expected to enter a plea on Monday.

Keys is free on $10,000 bail, and has been placed on administrative leave.