CHICOPEE, Mass. - Former Chicopee Superintendent of Schools Lynn Clark pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two counts of making false statements in connection with sending threatening messages to a candidate for Chicopee Chief of Police.

Authorities arrested Lynn Clark on April 6 and she was indicted on April 22.  An initial status hearing was scheduled for July 6 in federal court.

Clark faces up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000 for each charge of making false statements.

Last week, Chicopee mayor John Vieau said the school committee has taken action and Clark will ‘no longer be carrying out responsibilities’ as superintendent.

According to Vieau, at its next meeting, the school committee will consider appointing an acting superintendent for the rest of the school year.

“In the meantime, our staff remains focused on teaching and learning, and providing the best education possible for our students,” Vieau said in a statement.

Vieau said legal counsel has advised him not to comment any further because it is a personnel matter. 

Earlier this month, Clark was placed on paid administrative leave and the Chicopee School Committee has requested her resignation.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice District of Massachusetts, Clark allegedly sent 99 threatening text messages to a candidate for the Chicopee Police Chief last November.

The texts — sent by Clark from fictitious phone numbers purchased through a mobile app — were threats to the candidate to withdraw their application for Chicopee Chief of Police. The victim allegedly received many text messages from unknown numbers containing threats to expose information that would hurt the victim’s reputation. 

As a result, the victim withdrew their application, and the City of Chicopee delayed the selection process for a new police chief. 

According to the DOJ, Clark allegedly denied sending the messages to federal investigators and placed blame on other individuals. Specifically, over the course of the investigation, Clark allegedly suggested that other city employees, the victim’s colleagues and a member of Clark’s own family could have sent the messages. 

Clark later admitted that she sent the messages.

Clark, 51, was hired as superintendent in August 2019 and she took over the position on Feb. 1, 2020 following the retirement of former superintendent Richard Rege.