RALEIGH, N.C. — Former Wake County Public School System transportation director Vern Hatley is appealing a judge's decision to deny a motion that would allow him to go to trial for his alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.

Last week, a judge sentenced Hatley to seven to 10 years in prison for his role in a scheme to siphon millions of dollars from the school system.

Hatley had previously requested to withdraw his guilty plea in the case.

Hatley admitted to accepting nearly $23,000 worth of items, but he claims that his former budget analyst, Carol Finch, controlled and benefited from the criminal scheme without his knowledge.