HAVERHILL — A Lowell woman who worked as a teacher in multiple Massachusetts school districts was arraigned Friday on a slew of charges for allegedly falsifying her academic and military background to obtain employment.
According to a press release from Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office, 57-year-old Lissa Lagasse was arrested Friday morning and appeared in Salem Superior Court that afternoon. An Essex County grand jury indicted Lagasse on 21 counts related to false claims that she held undergraduate and advanced college degrees and that she was a retired combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient.
Prosecutors allege Lagasse used those fabricated credentials to gain employment and collect pay from school districts in Lowell, Worcester, and Haverhill.
The charges include three counts of pretending to hold degrees, identity fraud, reckless endangerment of a child, three counts of procurement fraud, two counts of stolen valor, six counts of uttering at common law, intimidation of a witness, three counts of larceny over $1,200, and being a common and notorious thief.
Lagasse pleaded not guilty before Judge William F. Bloomer. Her bail was set at $25,000; if posted, she must remain on home confinement with GPS monitoring. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, July 28.
The case was investigated by Detective Blake Harris and the Haverhill Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Shailagh Kennedy is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. Lagasse is represented by attorney Addison Gamliel.
