Former D65 Superintendent Charged With Assault In Georgia

EVANSTON, IL — Former Superintendent of Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Devon Horton was arrested in Georgia on charges of cruelty to children and aggravated assault, according to the publication Decaturish.

Horton, who is also the former DeKalb County school superintendent, was arrested on Jan. 17 after police responded to a domestic violence call at his home. A spokesperson with the local police department told the DeKalb County publication that the incident was between Horton and his wife.

“Officers determined that a verbal dispute between Mr. Devon Horton and his wife turned physical,” the spokesperson said. “Mr. Horton was arrested for aggravated assault and cruelty to children in the third degree as children were present at the time of the assault.”

Horton's attorney Terence Campbell told reporters that no children were involved in the argument, but were at home when the incident took place. Campbell said Horton called the authorities to his house.

The former D65 superintendent is also facing 17 charges related to an alleged kickback scheme that took place during his time leading the Illinois district.

According to prosecutors, Horton hired others who paid him $81,000 in kickbacks from 2019 to 2023. Horton faces a maximum of 290 years for 13 counts of wire fraud, two counts of tax evasion and two counts of embezzlement.

Horton is also accused of spending nearly $30,000 in unauthorized purchases on the school district's credit card for personal use and defaulting on repayment.

The next Illinois status hearing is set for Feb. 4.