Kailua's ex-coach
gets deferred pleaWarren Johnson can erase
his conviction on charges related
to the Felix consent law
A former assistant football coach at Kailua High School was granted a deferral of his guilty plea for overbilling the state about $3,500 in therapeutic services he did not provide to a special-needs student.
Warren B. Johnson Jr., 39, pleaded guilty in April to five counts of medical assistance fraud, two counts of attempted medical assistance fraud and nine counts of second-degree forgery.
He is the second to face criminal charges since the state began looking into allegations of fraud related to the Felix consent decree, a federal court order mandating improved educational and mental health services to students with disabilities.
Johnson formerly worked for Nursefinders Inc., which provides therapists to the state for special-needs students under the consent decree.
Johnson apologized in court yesterday and took responsibility for his actions, said his attorney, Guy Matsunaga.
"I think he took certain shortcuts and liberties he shouldn't have, but that's why he was charged," Matsunaga said. "Hopefully, this is something he can move on from."
In granting Johnson a five-year deferral, Circuit Judge Michael Town acknowledged the former coach's contributions to the community, Matsunaga said.
Johnson was put on leave from coaching pending the resolution of the criminal case. Johnson voluntarily left Nursefinders after the allegations against him surfaced, Matsunaga said.
According to Deputy Attorney General Chris Young, Johnson claimed he had provided services to the special-needs student on specific occasions, including when the child was in Las Vegas with his parents and could not have received any services.
Johnson also billed for services he allegedly provided during an entire Christmas break when the student's mother had taken vacation to care for her child and confirmed Johnson never provided any services.
Johnson also admitted he forged parents' signatures verifying he had provided the services so that he could get paid.
If Johnson complies with the court's conditions for five years, he has a chance to erase the conviction from his record.
Town also ordered Johnson to perform 200 hours of community service and pay a fine of $4,312.