A clerical staffer at a medical clinic in Louisiana was arrested this week after she allegedly helped students skip classes by selling them doctor's notes they could show school administrators.
Belinda Gail Fondren, age 52, of Evans, was taken into custody by the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Department on Oct. 23 after the department began receiving complaints of Fondren selling "medical excuses to students at local high schools," a press release said.
Fondren was able to obtain the notes for the students because she was employed as a clerical employee at the medical clinic in Evans County. The investigation began after Fondren's employer began receiving calls from the Vernon Parish School board wondering why their clinic was submitting so many excuse notes from them. The doctor told police none of the students had received treatment at his clinic and the notes were not authorized by his his clerical staff.
Sheriff Sam Craft told KPLC-TV that Fondren had been selling the notes to students for only $20 per note and that it had become common knowledge around his daughter's school.
Two students received excuses on 14 occasions, the station reported.
Fondren, who worked in a clerical position at the clinic, remains in the VPSO jail. She has been charged with Filing or Maintaining False Public Records, and her bond was set at $15,000. She faces a maximum sentence of 5-years in prison if convicted of the crime.
Photo: Vernon Parish Sheriff Department