HOUSTON -- The jury in the trial of former Texas Southern University President Priscilla Slade heard from an employee asked to oversee the landscaping at her home, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.
Slade, 55, is on trial for one of two counts of misapplication of fiduciary property with a value over $200,000. If convicted, she could face up to life in prison.
There was a 40-minute delay in the trial Friday morning while attorneys argued over evidence.
Prosecutors alleged that when Slade became president in 1999, she began spending money on her home, including $48,864 for furniture and nearly $22,000 for flooring. In all she spent more than $143,000 on her home in the Houston suburb of Missouri City.
Slade moved into a custom-built,$1.2 million, 6,000-square-foot, Mediterranean-style house in 2005. She spent more than $86,000 on furniture, more than $138,000 on landscaping and more than $61,800 on a high-tech security system. Prosecutors said Slade also had TSU employees work on the construction and design of her new home.
The university's executive director of facilities and construction told the jury that he was asked to oversee the landscaping at Slade's private residence. The project cost $176,000.
Ron Butler said Slade told him to meet with former TSU chief financial officer Quintin Wiggins to handle paying the bills.
The university's Board of Regents started asking questions. Butler said Wiggins asked him if he could tell the board he did not know anything about the project. Butler said he felt like he was being set up to take the fall.
Slade's attorney, Mike DeGeurin, said the improvements, including a new roof, carpeting and landscaping, were done because Slade often hosted TSU fundraising parties.
When Slade was hired as TSU's 10th president, the school was under fire for poor accounting practices and falling enrollment, and it faced a possible merger with another state school.
The spending scandal cost Slade her job in April 2006. She and three other TSU workers were indicted. Wiggins was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May.
Previous Stories: - September 10, 2007: Slade's Assistant Testifies About Lavish Perks
- September 7, 2007: Banker: Slade Said TSU Paid For Groceries, Services
- September 4, 2007: Attorneys Argue During Former TSU President's Trial
- August 24, 2007: Prosecutor: Former TSU President Had Wasteful Sprees
- August 20, 2007: Trial Begins For Ex-TSU President Accused Of Misspending
- August 6, 2007: Former TSU President's Request To Move Trial Denied
- July 20, 2007: Judge Denies Former TSU Official New Trial
- July 11, 2007: Former TSU President Wants Trial Moved
- May 8, 2007: Jury Decides Fate Of Former TSU Official
- May 7, 2007: Former TSU Official Does Not Testify At Trial
- May 3, 2007: Verdict Reached In Former TSU Official's Trial
- May 2, 2007: Jury Deliberates In Former TSU Official's Trial
- March 5, 2007: Former TSU President's Home For Sale Again
- August 2, 2006: Former TSU President Posts Bond
- August 1, 2006: Former TSU President Indicted
- June 7, 2006: Slade No-Show At Her TSU Termination Hearing
- May 19, 2006: Search Warrant Executed At TSU President's Home
- May 5, 2006: TSU Embattled President's Home Goes On Market
- April 18, 2006: TSU's Slade To Appeal Firing
- April 17, 2006: Regents Vote To Fire Texas Southern President
- April 14, 2006: Slade's Future Could Be Decided In Emergency Meeting
- March 29, 2006: TSU Selects Interim President
- March 17, 2006: Embattled TSU President To Take Paid Leave
- March 15, 2006: Emergency Meeting To Determine Slade's Future
- February 4, 2006: TSU Regents Keep President Slade
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