Law School Official Arrested for What?
Jason Shoumaker, a former facilities director at the University of Texas law school, was having the time of his life.
He traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cozumel, Las Vegas, and Miami -- all on company time. The problem was, he was supposed to be at the law school all that time.
Now he's facing criminal charges for tampering with time records. But for the Texas law school, there is a much bigger problem.
"Questionable Expenses"
Shoumaker's case is part of a larger investigation involving "several million dollars of questionable expenses," according to reports. He was fired in November after seven years at the law school.
He was placed on leave last July during an internal audit that ballooned into a criminal investigation. The Texas Tribune reported that prosecutors are looking at other irregularities at the scandal-plagued law school.
From 2007 to 2010, former dean Lawrenfce Sager reportedly ran up more than $400,000 for expenses on a credit card paid by the law school's foundation. He reportedly resigned after revelations about a secret half-million loan he received from the foundation, which is funded by donors.
His predecessor Bill Powers received $635,919 in deferred compensation, which the WatchDog said also raised questions about "whether his own compensation from the foundation was properly authorized."
Still on the Clock
The Texas Monitor says Powers and Sager still work at the law school. Powers makes $352,892 annually, and Sager is on the payroll for $349,107.
Shoumaker, in the meantime, will answer in court for his time-card malfeasance. He has not been charged with unauthorized expenses, however.
Documents show he used his own credit card, including charges for Hooters and a professional massage during his stay in Vegas. Joe Patrice, writing for Above the Law, says "[w]ithout fail, if a law school official gets tagged for wrongdoing, there's a Hooters charge involved."
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