Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman brought criminal charges Thursday against a couple who allegedly enrolled their child in the Lower Moreland Township School District when they lived in Philadelphia.

Hamlet and Olesia Garcia were charged with theft of services and conspiracy to commit theft of services. Tuition payments for an out-of-district child attending the Lower Moreland schools would have cost $ 10,753 a year, Ferman said.

Michael Cassidy, a Huntingdon Valley lawyer representing the Garcias, said his clients were innocent.

“Mr. and Mrs. Garcia absolutely believe their daughter was legally eligible to attend that school, and they had no intention of deceiving anyone,” Cassidy said. “Once all the information comes out, it will become clear to everybody.” The charges are based on a misunderstanding by authorities, he said.

According to the school district, the Garcias’ child was listed as living at the home of Olesia Garcia’s father in Lower Moreland.

It is not uncommon for suburban school districts, especially those bordering Philadelphia, to go to great lengths to prevent parents in other districts from sending their children to those schools.

The usual remedy is to remove the child from the district and seek repayment for the educational services. It is rare for a family to be crimina…………… continues on Philadelphia Inquirer