TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A former official with the state’s Juvenile Justice Authority who was fired in March is receiving a state pension, even though he didn’t work for the state for the required 10 years.
Dennis Casarona, former deputy commissioner of the authority, was fired in March over allegations of mismanagement and abuse at the authority’s facility in Topeka.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Casarona used an obscure interpretation of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System to become eligible for a pension, even though he had not worked for the state for 10 years.
An attorney for the Kansas Department of Administration says Casarona had no legal basis for his interpretation of the KPERS’ rules. Counsel A.J. Kotich says the issue should be referred to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Attorney General.
