HOUSTON -- A judge denied a new trial to a former Texas Southern University financial officer convicted of helping cover up a tax-funded personal spending spree, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.

Quintin Wiggins, the university's former vice president of finance, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was found guilty of one count of misapplication of fiduciary property with a value over $200,000, a first-degree felony.

Stanley Schneider, Wiggins' new attorney, told the court that his client's trial attorney, L. Mickele Daniels, did not adequately prepare.

"Mr. Daniels interviewed four witnesses out of a potential 50 that were given to him by Mr. Wiggins," Schneider said. "He reviewed none of the video statements in possession of the state. You can't try a case without talking to witnesses before trial. That's what happened in this case."

Prosecutors said Wiggins chose and hired Daniels and knew what he was getting into.

Schneider has requested a shock probation that would allow Wiggins to get out of jail before serving his full sentence.

Wiggins also has the option to appeal to a higher court.

Prosecutors said Wiggins helped hide a nearly $300,000 spending spree by the university's now-former president, Priscilla Slade.

Wiggins approved expenditures for Slade's estate, prosecutors said. Documents showed $138,000 was spent on landscaping, $86,000 for furniture and $61,000 on a security system.

Wiggins violated university and state procurement rules by approving the purchases and by failing to tell TSU's board of regents or other school officials about them.

Slade and two other university officials were also indicted on charges related to the purchases. Slade is scheduled to go to trial in August.