Ashland man pleads guilty to theft from school

A homeless Ashland man authorities said stole money from a teacher at Lake Superior Elementary School pleaded guilty earlier this month.

Gregory Secord, 31, pleaded guilty to theft of movable property of less than $2,500. Authorities said he stole a small amount of money from a teacher’s bag at the school in December 2023. He was also charged of entering a locked building, disorderly conduct, possession of narcotic drugs and possession of methamphetamine. As part of a plea agreement, those charges have been dropped.

Secord also pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia connected to another case.

Secord received 12 months’ probation and must undergo treatment.

According to the criminal complaint, a teacher at LSE left her classroom for about 45 seconds and when she returned she saw Secord crouched behind her desk going through her bag. When she asked what he was doing there, Secord replied, “I’m here to talk to you.” Secord told the teacher he checked in through the front office, but the teacher didn’t believe him. When the teacher said they needed to go to the office, Secord ran out the doors and another staff member followed him outside.

Secord was later found and arrested at 1900 Ellis Avenue. Officers searched him and found two pen tubes. One tested positive for methamphetamine and the other tested positive for fentanyl.

Secord told officers he had no plan to enter the school before he did. He caught the door as it was closing and entered the school to stay warm.

“He wanted to find a place to stay. He had no intent to hurt any kids. He stated, ‘Kids were not a factor.’ He knew the schools were kept locked as a precaution,” the criminal complaint said.

Secord admitted was looking through teachers’ bags and looking for money, ultimately stealing $4 from one.

He also admitted he used a half-gram of methamphetamine a day and he would “totally apologize to the school for the disturbance he caused.”

School District of Ashland Superintendent Robert Prater has said he is pleased with how the teacher and law enforcement responded to the incident.