Former Ft. Hall Elementary principal pleads guilty to theft

Brenda Honena, 52, of Blackfoot faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court Tuesday to the theft of money from the Fort Hall Elementary School in 2012.

Honena was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on February 23. The federal court has jurisdiction over the case because the Blackfoot School District receives federal funding.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the school district discovered in 2012 that certain suppliers of fundraisers held at the Fort Hall Elementary School had not been paid. Investigation revealed $9,463.51 raised in school fundraisers was missing.

Honena, who was then employed as principal of the school, initially denied taking the money. But in a later interview with FBI investigators, she admitted taking the money for her personal use.

Honena is scheduled to be sentenced November 8 before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in Pocatello.