Rodney Keith Thompson, 53, admitted stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the district over his six years there. According to the criminal complaint, he rang up personal expenses on a district purchasing card that included first-class airfare, Grand Ole Opry tickets, electronics, Vikings memorabilia, Harley Davidson jewelry and a $46 garden hose. In a Shakopee courtroom, Thompson stood with an attorney at the lectern handcuffed and wearing a prison uniform. He fought back tears as he addressed Judge Christian Wilton. “I am not proud today, Thompson said. “I have had a lot of time to think about this, and I am very, very sorry.” Judge Wilton scolded Thompson for his greed. “You stole the taxpayers’ money,” Wilton said. “You used the money to buy trips and upgrade to first class, buy jewelry and things for your house, Vikings flags, TVs, speakers, a Kindle. All of this while being paid a couple hundred thousand dollars a year to do your job.”  Thompson pleaded guilty last fall in U.S. District Court to soliciting a bribe from a contractor. Thompson got $44,000 in free home improvements in exchange for steering school district business to the company. As part of a plea deal, Wilton handed Thompson a two-year sentence that’ll run concurrently with a two-year federal sentence.

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