Most people expect legality to be equivalent to Morality, but for those who understand legal matters, moral correctness isn’t always legal correctness. There are times when doing the right thing can still land you in trouble. There are certain things that are morally right but legally wrong. A superintendent of an Indiana School district is currently learning that fact the hard way as she is now facing insurance fraud charges for allegedly using her son’s name and her insurance to receive medical treatment for a sick student.

According to court documents, Casey Smitherman, the superintendent of Elwood Community School Corporation, has been charged with insurance fraud, identity deception, insurance application fraud, and official misconduct after she was arrested by police officers in Elwood, Indiana following a tip that she took one of her students to the hospital for urgent care.

Smitherman had taken the 15-year-old to an urgent care center after he missed school because he had a sore throat on Jan. 9 according to a probable cause affidavit. A case filed against Smitherman on 23rd January at the Madison County Sheriff’s Department Smitherman is being charged with insurance fraud, identity deception, and official misconduct. Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings told NBC News that the superintendent took the student to one urgent care location first, however, after he was denied treatment for not being his guardian, she subsequently took the student to St. Vincent Med in Elwood. Cummings said in order to get the student evaluated at St. Vincent she used her insurance and lied that the ailing student is her son.

In her defense, Smitherman told the police that she was worried about the student when he did not show up for school and she went by his house and saw that he was ill, according to the affidavit. She said after leaving urgent care she went to a CVS Pharmacy to have a prescription filled for Amoxicillin, again using her insurance and son’s name.

According to Smitherman, she did not contact child welfare authorities when the incident occurred because she was afraid the student, who doesn’t live at home with his parents would be placed in a foster home. According to reports, this isn’t the first time the superintendent will be helping the student. She had assisted him in the past by buying him clothes and with cleaning his home as well.

When Authorities got in contact with the student he revealed that he was aware that it was wrong to be in possession of prescription meant for someone else which was why he tore off the label on the pill bottle to avoid being found out.

Smitherman was arrested and charged for the offenses, however, court records revealed she was subsequently released after posting a cash bond of $500. While a date for the hearing has not been set yet, according to the prosecutor, Smitherman will most likely be asked to pay a fine and possibly have to do community service.
A statement by the Elwood Community School Corporation mentioned that despite her unfortunate mistake, Smitherman has their support.

“We understand that it was out of concern for this child’s welfare. We know she understands what she did was wrong, but she continues to have our support,” the statement read. What do you think about this case, do you think Smitherman could have done better? Let us know in the comment section below.