{"id":733020,"date":"2024-03-25T20:40:55","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T01:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/?p=733020"},"modified":"2024-04-01T08:43:50","modified_gmt":"2024-04-01T13:43:50","slug":"preliminary-hearing-starts-for-epic-charter-schools-founders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2024\/03\/25\/preliminary-hearing-starts-for-epic-charter-schools-founders\/","title":{"rendered":"Preliminary Hearing Continues for Epic Charter Schools Founders"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-custom-everlit-iframe-embed\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"50px\" src=\"https:\/\/everlit.audio\/embeds\/artl_8Dayv5UnrPv?client=wp&amp;client_version=2.6.0\" title=\"Everlit Audio Player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Jump To <a href=\"#Day-One\">Day 1<\/a> <a href=\"#Day-2\">Day 2<\/a> <a href=\"#Day-3\">Day 3<\/a> <a href=\"#Day-4\">Day 4<\/a> <a href=\"#Day-5\">Day 5<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Day-One\"><strong>Day One \u2014 Monday, March 25, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A former school board president and an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent testified on the opening day of a week-long court hearing in the criminal case against the founders of Epic Charter Schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The state\u2019s attorneys will attempt to convince Oklahoma County District Special Judge Jason Glidewell there is enough evidence to bind the defendants over for trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>David Chaney, 44, and Ben Harris, 48, each face 15 charges related to their operation of the online charter school, including embezzlement, money laundering, computer crimes and conspiracy to defraud the state. They have denied wrongdoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chaney, wearing a gray jacket and glasses, appeared with his attorney, Gary Wood. Harris, in a blue suit and pink tie, attended with his attorneys, Joe and Kate White.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Much of OSBI agent Mark Drummond\u2019s testimony, the first witness, focused on multiple companies involved in Epic and their bank records. Prosecutors allege Chaney and Harris used shell companies to conceal millions in illegal profits. Drummond has been the lead investigator on the case since 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One bank account belonging to Epic Youth Services, Chaney and Harris\u2019 for-profit company, collected money from the school through a 10% management fee. The company made payments mainly to five entities: Chaney, Harris, a technology company owned by Harris\u2019 wife, chief financial officer Josh Brock through his consulting firm, and lobbyist Bobby Stem.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-alignright ts-4 is-1 is-landscape is-style-borders\" style=\"\">\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"751730\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>the latest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"754196\" class=\"tag-attorney-general tag-cdc tag-covid-19 tag-george-monks tag-measles tag-oklahoma-news tag-oklahoma-state-department-of-health tag-oklahoma-state-medical-association tag-whooping-cough category-health category-publichealth type-post post-has-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2026\/01\/05\/oklahoma-health-department-refuses-to-share-county-level-measles-data\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Oklahoma Health Department Refuses to Share County-Level Measles Data\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Monks_15-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2026\/01\/05\/oklahoma-health-department-refuses-to-share-county-level-measles-data\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Oklahoma Health Department Refuses to Share County-Level Measles Data<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/author\/paulmonies\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" alt=\"Avatar photo\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/cropped-Paul-Monies.jpg?resize=48%2C48&amp;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/cropped-Paul-Monies-96x96.jpg 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-48 photo\" height=\"48\" width=\"48\"><\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/author\/paulmonies\/\">Paul Monies<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-01-05T06:01:00-06:00\">January 5, 2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-01-05T11:05:42-06:00\">January 5, 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p>Thousands of pages of bank records from multiple accounts were submitted as evidence but won\u2019t be available in the court file. The judge agreed to admit the records under a protective order.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doug Scott, former chairman of Epic Charter Schools\u2019 board, took the stand in the afternoon. Scott, an attorney in Tulsa, has known Chaney since they were children.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prosecutors questioned Scott about the learning fund, a unique feature that allowed parents to select some educational items. Each year, the school directed a set amount per student to the learning fund, managed by Epic Youth Services.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the embezzlement charges accuse Chaney and Harris of diverting money in the learning fund to themselves as profit or to other charter schools they managed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prosecutors argued that Epic Youth Services was responsible for managing the learning fund money on behalf of Oklahoma students and weren\u2019t authorized to spend it however they wanted. Attorneys for Chaney and Harris argued that the money was no longer public funds once paid to Epic Youth Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hearing will resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. Epic\u2019s former chief financial officer, Josh Brock, is expected to be called to testify. He faces the same charges but waived his right to a preliminary hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Day-2\"><strong>Day Two \u2014 Tuesday, March 26, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Day two of a preliminary hearing for Epic Charter Schools\u2019 co-founders concluded in the midst of testimony from Jeanise Wynn, the school\u2019s deputy superintendent of finance since 2021. That year, the online charter school was managing fallout from a critical state audit and a contract termination that threatened to close the school.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wynn considered it a challenge to right the school\u2019s finances and accepted the job offer, she said in court Tuesday. Right away, some financial practices concerned her. One was the student count Epic used to pay Epic Youth Services for the learning fund, which was higher than the average enrollment. \u201cThere was a distinct difference between those two numbers,\u201d Wynn said. \u201cAbout $8 million if I remember.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Legal wrangling over whether Wynn could describe comments Harris made in an executive session of a meeting of the school\u2019s board ate nearly an hour of the day. Defense attorneys objected, arguing the conversation was privileged and confidential.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cThere was a distinct difference between those two numbers. About $8 million if I remember.\u201d\u00a0<\/p><cite>Jeanise Wynn<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, Judge Glidewell allowed Wynn to answer a question about what was said in the meeting, which took place in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harris, Wynn said, informed the board and others in the closed session that Epic Charter Schools had paid money to the Epic charter school in California. Harris\u2019 comment was meant as a heads-up to the board because the information would soon be released in a report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the day\u2019s testimony, prosecutors hammered several learning fund policies \u2014\u00a0that religious curriculum could not be purchased and that parents could not keep items because they belonged to the school \u2014\u00a0to support the argument that the money being spent was public. Defense attorneys have argued the dollars became private once paid to Epic Youth Services.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chandler Winningham, who was hired by Epic in 2018 as director of the student learning fund, also testified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both Winningham and Wynn described how Epic employees processed learning fund orders for students at Epic California, despite being employees of Oklahoma. Some of the embezzlement charges accuse Chaney and Harris of diverting money in the learning fund to themselves as profit or to other charter schools they managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Renee McWaters, program manager for the state Education Department\u2019s state aid section, also testified Tuesday, describing different funding allocations schools receive and statutory limitations on some of those dollars, such as for textbooks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hearing continues at 9 a.m. Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Day-3\"><strong>Day Three \u2014 Wednesday, March 27, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1.jpg?resize=771%2C578&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-733057\" style=\"width:400px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=771%2C578&amp;ssl=1 771w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=336%2C252&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1537&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1176&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1501&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C530&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1116-1-771x578.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Epic Charter Schools\u2019 co-founder David Chaney leaves the courtroom on March 27, 2024. (Jennifer Plamer\/Oklahoma Watch)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Nearly all the testimony on the third day of a hearing in the embezzlement case against Epic Charter Schools\u2019 co-founders came from Salesha Wilken, an auditor in the Oklahoma State Auditor &amp; Inspector\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The auditor\u2019s office hired Wilken in 2015 and she was one of the three main auditors who worked on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sai.ok.gov\/Search%20Reports\/database\/Epic%20Charter%20Schools%20Investigative%20Audit%20-%20Part%20One.pdf\">Epic Charter Schools investigative audit<\/a> released in October 2020. Findings from the audit form the backbone of the state\u2019s criminal case against Epic co-founders David Chaney and Ben Harris and their longtime chief financial officer, Josh Brock.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wilken described auditors\u2019 struggle to obtain financial records from Epic Youth Services, Chaney and Harris\u2019s educational management company, in the early stages of the audit. Eventually, bank records were obtained with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Wilken said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cThese were public monies. These were for the kids.\u201d\u00a0<\/p><cite>Salesha Wilken<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Those records revealed numerous large and frequent transfers from a bank account the company maintained for the learning fund to the company\u2019s general operating account, Wilken testified. There were 52 such transfers totaling $3.2 million. That concerned her.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese were public monies,\u201d Wilken said. \u201cThese were for the kids.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the school cut ties with Epic Youth Services in 2021, in the wake of the audit, the account\u2019s balance was about $5 million, she said. Chaney and Harris subsequently invested nearly all of that money in securities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In February, Chaney and Harris agreed in a court order to leave that money untouched during the criminal proceedings. The attorney general\u2019s office wants the money forfeited if they secure a conviction.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On cross-examination, Joe White, who represents Harris, interrogated Wilken for more than 2 1\/2 hours. Many times, White attempted to get Wilken to describe the money in Epic Youth Services\u2019 learning fund account as private dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCan you and I agree the law on what constitutes private funds is gray?\u201d White asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t offer an opinion on that,\u201d Wilken said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wilken\u2019s testimony wrapped up just before 5 p.m. The hearing continues at 9 a.m. Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Day-4\"><strong>Day Four \u2014 Thursday, March 28, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A defense attorney on Thursday said Epic Charter Schools\u2019 co-founders David Chaney and Ben Harris spent big in a dark money campaign opposing the state auditor\u2019s re-election in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harris\u2019 attorney, Joe White, tried to cast suspicion on the timing of Chaney and Harris\u2019 arrests in June 2022, days before the Republican primary, painting it as politically motivated.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brenda Holt, director of the forensic audit division of the State Auditor &amp; Inspector and the lead auditor on the investigative audit of Epic Charter Schools, answered questions from the witness stand.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCan you tell me how much they (Chaney and Harris) donated to your boss\u2019 opponent?\u201d White asked. After Holt said she didn\u2019t know, White followed up with: \u201cCan we agree it was hundreds of thousands of dollars?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some suspected Chaney and Harris were behind the spending against Auditor Cindy Byrd\u2019s re-election. <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2022\/06\/28\/in-many-oklahoma-races-outside-groups-are-outspending-candidates\/\">Two political action committees spent more than $638,000<\/a> on TV and radio ads to support little-known Republican candidate Steve McQuillen in that race. The groups can keep donors secret and can spend unlimited amounts if it\u2019s not coordinated with campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Political campaign contributions were one of many elements auditors learned about Chaney and Harris\u2019 spending following their release of the investigative audit in October 2020. At the time, they hadn\u2019t gained access to the credit card statements and bank records of Epic Youth Services, Chaney and Harris\u2019 for-profit charter management company. But shortly after, they collaborated with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and obtained those records, Holt testified.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On one credit card account in the name of IAQS, a business of Chaney\u2019s, they found legitimate purchases of educational items commingled with personal purchases. Auditors calculated $817,000 in personal purchases, and just $377,000 in payments from Chaney, Holt said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the bank records, they ascertained the total payments (often labeled \u201cguaranteed payment\u201d or GP on the checks\u2019 memo line) added up to $8.7 million for Brock, $23 million for Chaney, and more than $24 million for Harris, Holt said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>White began cross-examining Holt at 11 a.m., at one point spending hours having Holt walk him through each finding in the 116-page audit individually. He had yet to conclude at the end of Thursday, casting doubt on whether the hearing could wrap up Friday, as scheduled.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prosecutors plan to call two more witnesses after Holt, including Josh Brock, Epic\u2019s former chief financial officer. The hearing continues at 9 a.m. Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Day-5\"><strong>Day Five \u2014 Friday, March 29, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The state on Friday called its most anticipated witness \u2014\u00a0former Epic money man Josh Brock \u2014\u00a0to testify against Chaney and Harris, his former business partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brock is also charged in the multimillion-dollar embezzlement case. He is cooperating with prosecutors in exchange for a sentence that does not include prison time but 15 years probation and restitution in an amount to be determined, Brock said during his testimony Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070.jpg?resize=771%2C618&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-733019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=771%2C618&amp;ssl=1 771w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=336%2C269&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C616&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1232&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1642&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C962&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C821&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1257&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1604&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C321&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C566&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_1070-771x618.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ben Harris follows his attorneys, Joe and Kate White, from an Oklahoma City courtroom on March 25, 2024, the first day of a week-long preliminary hearing. Harris and Epic Charter Schools co-founder, David Chaney, each face 15 felony counts related to the alleged misuse of ten of millions of dollars. (Jennifer Palmer\/Oklahoma Watch)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Brock provided financial services to Epic Youth Services, the management company, and served as encumbrance clerk for Epic Charter Schools at the school\u2019s inception in 2011. Harris recruited Brock because of his financial background; Brock has a bachelor\u2019s degree in finance and accounting and an MBA.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He wasn\u2019t an employee of either the school or the company but a private contractor. Epic Youth Services paid him $7,333 per month, plus big bonuses: $25,000 if the school received a clean annual financial audit, $10,000 for a balanced budget, and $15,000 for timeliness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of that, he received a 10% slice of Epic Youth Services\u2019 profits (Chaney and Harris split the rest 50\/50). At the height of Epic\u2019s enrollment, Brock\u2019s total compensation was $1.5 million to $2 million, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over 5 1\/2 hours on the witness stand, Brock described how profits drove business decisions in the school\u2019s operation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why did Epic open its blended school model in 2017? To expand the business, Brock said. Why did Epic open a California school? To expand the business, Brock said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why was Epic\u2019s learning fund managed by school employees, not the company? To \u201cminimize cost, maximize profit,\u201d Brock said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even Epic\u2019s first day of school, always after Labor Day in September, was chosen to financially benefit the company. With most other districts starting in August, dissatisfied students were apt to transfer to Epic when it hadn\u2019t started yet, Brock explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brock\u2019s testimony was not complete at the end of the day Friday. Defense attorneys Wood and White said they were unable to return on Monday, so Judge Glidewell scheduled the preliminary hearing to resume May 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Ed. Note: Oklahoma Watch will add each day\u2019s preliminary hearing highlights to this post.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=771%2C771&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-700097\" style=\"width:193px;height:193px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=771%2C771&amp;ssl=1 771w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=336%2C336&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=140%2C140&amp;ssl=1 140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=706%2C706&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194-771x771.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Jennifer Palmer has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2016 and covers education. Contact her at <a href=\"tel:4057610093\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(405) 761-0093<\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jpalmerOKC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@jpalmerOKC<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:3px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-default wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-1 show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape is-style-default\" style=\"\">\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"751730\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>MORE FROM Jennifer Palmer<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"753221\" class=\"tag-brandon-pasley tag-domestic-violence-fatality-review-board tag-jacquelyn-campbell tag-laura-thomas tag-scott-hawkins category-criminaljustice category-domestic-violence type-post post-has-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/24\/domestic-violence-board-chairman-resigns-in-protest\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Domestic Violence Board Chairman Resigns in Protest\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/24\/domestic-violence-board-chairman-resigns-in-protest\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Domestic Violence Board Chairman Resigns in Protest<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A decision by the state\u2019s domestic violence board exposed a rift over how a mandatory protective tool is to be used and led chairman and domestic violence advocate Brandon Pasley to resign. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2025-11-24T06:00:00-06:00\">November 24, 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"752624\" class=\"tag-charles-rust tag-deaths tag-guns tag-savannah-phillips tag-suicide category-health category-mental-health category-vulnerable-populations type-post post-has-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/07\/isolation-illness-and-guns-why-more-older-oklahomans-are-dying-by-suicide\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Isolation, Illness and Guns: Why More Older Oklahomans Are Dying by Suicide\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025_1106_5D4B8204-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/07\/isolation-illness-and-guns-why-more-older-oklahomans-are-dying-by-suicide\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Isolation, Illness and Guns: Why More Older Oklahomans Are Dying by Suicide<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>More older Americans are dying by gun suicide. The rate is particularly high in Oklahoma, and especially in rural counties.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-11-07T06:00:00-06:00\">November 7, 2025<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2025-11-07T10:33:35-06:00\">November 7, 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"752137\" class=\"tag-anthony-sykes tag-cameron-mcellhiney tag-dave-cuillier tag-gary-knight tag-incident-reports tag-lawsuit tag-mark-thomas tag-oklahoma-city tag-police tag-public-records tag-ron-bacy tag-valerie-littlejohn category-democracy category-democracy-democracy category-government category-transparency type-post post-has-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/24\/okc-police-are-withholding-reports-alarming-transparency-advocates\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"OKC Police Are Withholding Reports, Alarming Transparency Advocates\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/TED_2490-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/10\/24\/okc-police-are-withholding-reports-alarming-transparency-advocates\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">OKC Police Are Withholding Reports, Alarming Transparency Advocates<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>OKC police are withholding police reports unless there was an arrest, charges or a warrant, alarming transparency advocates. The public access counselor sided with police, allowing the practice to continue and, potentially, spread.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2025-10-24T06:00:00-05:00\">October 24, 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oklahoma Watch is covering the week-long hearing in the embezzlement case against David Chaney and Ben Harris, who created Epic Charter Schools. Check this post for daily updates from the courthouse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2622484,"featured_media":733071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"gigafact_has_fact_brief":false,"gigafact_remote_fact_brief_post_id":0,"gigafact_remote_sync_timestamp":"","gigafact_remote_sync_status":"","gigafact_remote_sync_response":"","gigafact_has_been_published":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"everlit_article_id":"artl_8Dayv5UnrPv","everlit_hide_embed":false,"everlit_embed_size":"","everlit_generation_settings":{"primary_voice":"65","guest_voice":"48"},"_everlit_article_id":"","_everlit_hide_embed":false,"_everlit_embed_size":"","_everlit_generation_settings":[],"_everlit_content_hash":"","_everlit_metadata_hash":"544928fb971564df3d130516fe609ad2","_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13,549],"tags":[8769,20117,8768,88,20116,229,17589,198],"series":[233],"coauthors":[401],"class_list":["post-733020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-epic-charter-schools","tag-ben-harris","tag-chaney","tag-david-chaney","tag-education-2","tag-embezzlement","tag-epic-charter-schools","tag-josh-brock","tag-virtual-schools","series-virtual-schools","entry"],"fact_brief":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Preliminary Hearing Continues for Epic Charter Schools Founders - Oklahoma Watch<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2024\/03\/25\/preliminary-hearing-starts-for-epic-charter-schools-founders\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Preliminary Hearing Continues for Epic Charter Schools Founders - Oklahoma Watch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Oklahoma Watch is covering the week-long hearing in the embezzlement case against David Chaney and Ben Harris, who created Epic Charter Schools. 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