The Des Moines Public School District has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against JG Consulting, the firm it used to recruit former superintendent Ian Roberts. The settlement was filed with the court on Monday, though the specific terms have not been disclosed.

According to Radio Iowa, the lawsuit alleged that JG Consulting was negligent and breached its contract after Roberts was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last year and it emerged that he was not authorized to work in the United States. In response, the search firm filed a countersuit claiming the school district defamed the firm.

James Guerra, CEO of JG Consulting, told the court that all parties agree the criminal actions of Mr. Roberts are his responsibility alone. “Not one of us, as an entity, whether its my firm, the school district, or the other third party, is responsible. So all blame is being shifted to Mr. Roberts,” Guerra said. He added that the agreement is still being finalized.

Roberts, a native of Guyana, was sentenced earlier this year to two years in prison after pleading guilty to lying on employment paperwork and possessing firearms without legal status. His conviction and the subsequent settlement raise questions about the district’s hiring vetting processes, a concern for parents and taxpayers in Des Moines.

What’s next: The settlement agreement will be finalized in the coming weeks, and the school district has indicated it will review its hiring procedures to ensure compliance with federal employment laws. Community members and local officials will be monitoring the outcome for any further actions or policy changes.

Sources: radioiowa.com