Vashti Washington's attorney responds to criminal allegation

Former Jasper County superintendent Vashti Washington is planning to take civil action against a school board member who filed a criminal report against Washington on Tuesday, a Beaufort attorney says.

Washington, who resigned Dec. 31, is accused by school board member Randy Horton of misusing $54,000 in public funds to give district employees unauthorized Christmas bonuses.

A day after Horton filed a report with the Ridgeland Police Department, an attorney for Washington said he is preparing a news release on behalf of the former superintendent.

"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," attorney Jim Moss said. "This Randy Horton is just nuts and goes off accusing everybody of being criminals and it's just not so."

Washington and Horton were previously involved in a legal battle after the former superintendent filed a lawsuit in April 2014 claiming Horton "slandered and libeled" her and influenced a federal investigation of the district.

Horton counter-argued that Washington sought only to harass and silence him.

The suit was dismissed in December, according to court records.

Follow reporter Rebecca Lurye on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Rebecca.

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Vashti Washington's attorney responds to criminal allegation."