A Gadsden County School Board employee is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing more than $224,000 worth of copper wire from the public school district, according to court records obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat.
Michael Pride worked for the Gadsden County School Board for over 30 years and is currently the maintenance supervisor. He is being charged with grand larceny, dealing in stolen property and driving with a suspended license.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a citizen complaint on April 7, 2026 referencing “a Gadsden County School Board employee using school funds to purchase significant amounts of copper from Graybar in the last couple of months.”
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It also notes that the copper “was not typical of the size of copper commonly used for construction.”
A police report details Pride’s arrest on April 28, 2026 at Leon Iron and Metal just as he was allegedly preparing to pawn copper wire for cash and findings from an investigation. He initially was bonded out of the Leon County jail April 29, but was arrested again on July 20 on a more severe charge of grand larceny.
“Pride admitted that he has been selling the old copper wire to Leon Iron and Metals for a while but stated he has only been selling the old copper wire that has been removed from the Gadsden County School buildings,” the report reads.
“Pride stated he picked up copper wire from Graybar that morning and delivered that wire to the Gadsden County School. Pride stated that he would then install the new wiring in a school board building and then take the old wiring from the school and sell it to Leon Iron and Metal. Pride said all his new copper wire installation work was documented on a work order.”
He told law enforcement agents that “no one at the school board knew he was selling the old copper and keeping the proceeds.”
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Gadsden County Schools Superintendent Elijah Key told investigators that “at no time has anyone in the Gadsden County School District been authorized to dispose or sell items for personal gain.”
After the investigation was completed July 17, it was found that Pride allegedly purchased $660,474.57 worth of copper using Gadsden County School Board funds from September 2021 to April 2026 and after sold the copper wire to Leon Iron and Metal for approximately $224,022.85.
Following the discovery, he was arrested again on July 20 and transported to the Leon County jail.
Court documents reveal Pride said he “kept a couple of hundred dollars and spent the remaining amount on food for his employees or if any of their families needed anything, such as when a family member passes away.”
Pride bailed out of jail for $20,000 on July 21, filed a not guilty plea and hired Timothy Jansen, an attorney with Jansen & Davis, a private law firm.
Alaijah Cross covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at abrown@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gadsden Schools maintenance chief accused of stealing $224K of copper