ASTORIA, Ore. -- Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said Tuesday he will not pursue charges of funding misuse against former Jewell School Superintendent John Seeley.

Seeley collected $360,771 in expenses over five years from the timber-rich district, often without receipts.

The announcement follows a yearlong investigation by the Oregon attorney general's office, which concluded only that his spending habits were "lavish, extreme and chaotic."

But there was no proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Seeley took the funds for himself or without permission, according to the attorney general.

Marquis said the probe found a complete lack of controls and safeguards, an absence of school board minutes or a record of a formal vote for the expenditures.

"The school district agreed to build a house for the superintendent, and Mr. Seeley claimed over $17,000 just for the construction of a fence," Marquis said.

Seeley often paid for trips with his personal credit card, receiving up to $30,000 at a time and submitting his credit card statement as a receipt, making things "very difficult to try to reconcile," Marquis said.

He said the school board didn't exercise "customary and reasonable controls."

The results of the state probe were obtained by The Daily Astorian newspaper through a freedom of information request.

Seeley was put on administrative leave in October 2006 pending the outcome of an unrelated criminal investigation. Temporary administrators noted the irregularities.

Seeley is on probation for criminal mistreatment of a daughter, and if he completes probation the charge will be dismissed. He remains employed with the district, although his job doesn't require him to be licensed and he's not allowed on school grounds.