Background of Charges
Devon Horton, former superintendent for Evanston-Skokie District 65, was indicted by a grand jury in DeKalb County, Georgia, on August 4. He faces charges of aggravated assault and cruelty to children related to a domestic incident in January. According to court records, this followed a verbal dispute with his wife that escalated into a physical altercation.
These Georgia charges are separate from Horton’s October 2025 federal indictment for alleged kickback schemes and misappropriation of funds during his time as superintendent of District 65.
Details of the Georgia Case
Horton served as District 65 superintendent for four years before resigning in 2023. He then took a position as superintendent in DeKalb County School District, Georgia, but resigned following news of his federal indictment and subsequent administrative leave.
In Georgia, Horton faces a felony count of aggravated assault and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to children. The charges stem from an incident at his Stone Mountain home, where police responded to reports of a domestic dispute. Horton reportedly attempted strangulation in front of his two children, leading to the additional misdemeanor charges.
Court records show Horton posted a $27,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment on September 2. Attempts to obtain comments from Horton’s attorney, Alasia Dalton, were unsuccessful.
Federal Charges in Illinois
Horton’s legal issues extend to Illinois, where he faces a federal trial starting in October. The charges include 17 counts of wire fraud, tax evasion, and embezzlement, which carry a maximum sentence of 290 years.
Prosecutors allege Horton approved contracts between 2020 and 2023 for three associates, resulting in kickbacks totaling $81,000. The associates reportedly lied about the contracts and submitted fraudulent invoices to obtain payment.
During his October 2025 arraignment, Horton entered a not guilty plea to all charges. District 65 officials expressed their concern and anger over the allegations but chose not to comment further to ensure the federal investigation’s integrity.
Career Background
Before his role at District 65, Horton was the chief of schools for Jefferson County in Kentucky for five years. His career began at Chicago Public Schools, where he initially worked as a teacher before advancing to principal and assistant superintendent for East St. Louis Public School District 189.