CINCINNATI — An arraignment set for Thursday for a former Lawrence County School Superintendent accused of tax fraud has been rescheduled for April 25 in Ohio’s Southern District Court.

The initial appearance by Harold J. “Bucky” Shafer, 66, of Pedro, was originally set for March 18 for the man to answer 10 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent income tax returns and two counts of filing false income tax returns.

The arraignment was reset for Thursday at the request of Kevin Conners, Columbus-based attorney representing Shafer.

Another notice was filed Tuesday at Conner’s request to have the arraignment reset for 1:30 p.m. April 25 before Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz.

Shafer was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this month.

The indictment alleges that Shafer, through his tax preparation service, prepared returned for customers that falsely reported that the taxpayers were entitle to claim deductions he knew they were not entitled to.

Shafer is alleged to have filed fraudulent tax returns on his own behalf for two years, saying he made less than he knew to be true.

Shafer was the county school superintendent from 1993 to 2008. He was an educator in Lawrence County for 42 years

Each count of the indictment is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Grimes is representing the United States in this case.