Hayfield Secondary School's former principal turned himself in Wednesday, Sept. 30, on a felony embezzlement charge. Fairfax County police say Darin Thompson spent nearly $8,000 in school funds on personal travel.

Thompson, 51, of Lorton, surrendered at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and was released on a $3,000 unsecured bond, the Fairfax County Police Department announced.

Detectives from FCPD's Franconia District Financial Crimes Unit launched the investigation on April 21 after the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Auditor General flagged Thompson's alleged fraudulent use of school-issued payment cards. The spending covered personal travel and attendance at events unrelated to his duties as principal, police said.

Thompson has been employed with FCPS since July 2023. He was placed on administrative leave after the district became aware of the allegations and has now been suspended following his arrest, according to FCPD.

He is the second Hayfield Secondary employee to face embezzlement charges in 2026. In June, finance technician Stephanie Gale, 45, was charged with felony embezzlement and computer fraud after the same auditor general's office flagged potential misappropriation of funds at the school, FFXnow reported. Gale was accused of embezzling more than $40,000.

Both investigations launched on April 21, though police have not said whether the auditor general's referrals were connected.

In a June 5 letter to Hayfield families about the Gale case, current principal Tony DiBari wrote that the matter "was uncovered during a routine financial audit that began as I joined the team at Hayfield Secondary School."

Under Virginia law, felony embezzlement of $1,000 or more carries a potential sentence of one to 20 years in state prison.

No court date for Thompson has been announced. No FCPS statement specifically addressing his arrest has been released. Anyone with information can call FCPD's Financial Crimes Unit at 703-246-3533 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Solvers of Fairfax County at 866-411-8477.