TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A former Vigo County School Corporation employee convicted of taking part in a kick-back scheme and stealing tens-of-thousands of dollars is now asking for the court to pay for an attorney.

Franklin Fennell has requested a court-appointed attorney or a “pauper council” so he can discuss his case before it’s too late to file for an appeal.

Fennell was convicted by a jury of stealing over $110,000 from the school corporation and has been ordered to pay that back and serve two years in prison.