LAFAYETTE, LA. (KLFY) — Robert Gautreaux, former Lafayette Parish School System’s (LPSS) Director of Construction, Maintenance, and Facilities, has been arrested for charges of injuring public record and filing false public records, police said.

During the investigation, it was discovered forged bids and the use of an unlicensed contractor by Lafayette Parish School System by a state auditor.

LPSS received a letter on May 21 from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, which found that a contractor that worked on a Lafayette school was unlicensed, and that two other bids for the project were forged. Other forged bids have since been discovered.

Two district employees were placed on administrative leave in connection with the matter, and the district handed the investigation over to the Lafayette Police Department. It is unclear if Gautreaux was one of those two employees.

Gautreaux was replaced by Associate Superintendent Mark Rabalais, who has assumed direct oversight of the department for LPSS. Gautreaux returned to teaching agricultural science, after less than two years overseeing construction and maintenance projects before his arrest, LPSS Communications Director Tracy Wirtz has confirmed.

“The arrest of Mr. Gautreaux is very upsetting to me. He is a friend and has been a great asset to LPSS in both his teaching and administrative capacities. At the same time, however, all employees of LPSS are expected to perform their job duties in accordance with legal requirements. If it is ultimately determined that he failed to do so, then appropriate administrative action will be taken. In the meantime, I have directed my staff to continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office until this matter is resolved.” Superintendent Francis Touchet, Jr. said.

At this time, Gautreaux is booked in Lafayette Parish Correctional Center and his bond is set at $20,000.

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