Covington Principal Arrested Amid Investigation into Alleged Financial Misconduct at Louisiana High School
GONZALES, La. — A principal at a Covington, Louisiana high school was taken into custody Thursday morning following an ongoing investigation into allegations of financial impropriety within the school district, authorities confirmed.
Why: Law enforcement officials stated the arrest stemmed from a months-long probe by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office into suspicious accounting practices and missing funds tied to the school’s athletic and extracurricular programs.
Who: The suspect, identified as Principal Michael T. Devereaux, 52, was booked at the Ascension Parish Jail on charges of felony theft, filing false public records, and malfeasance in office. The Covington Police Department assisted in the apprehension.
When: The arrest occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. local time as Devereaux arrived for work, with no incident reported.
Where: The incident took place at Covington High School, located at 73030 Lion Drive, where Devereaux had served as principal since 2021.
What: According to a statement from Sheriff Bobby Webre, detectives allege Devereaux diverted over $140,000 from booster club accounts and school activity funds between 2023 and 2025, utilizing the money for personal expenses including travel and home renovations. School district officials have cooperated fully with the investigation and have placed Devereaux on administrative leave without pay pending further proceedings.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office tips line. Devereaux is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Friday.