HOUSTON -- Prosecutors will soon wrap up their case against former Texas Southern University President Priscilla Slade, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.
Slade, 55, is charged with two felony counts of misapplication of fiduciary property. If convicted, she could face punishment ranging from probation to life in prison.
Sources told KPRC Local 2 that before the trial, prosecutors offered Slade a deal that included a 25-year minimum prison sentence if she plead guilty but she turned it down.
Prosecutors called a financial fraud expert in the district attorney's office as their final witness. George Jordan testified that Slade was making about $20,000 a month, but her personal bank account was often overdrawn.
Prosecutors said that when it came time to pay back the university for landscaping at her home, Slade had to borrow the money and withdraw funds from her retirement. The district attorney's office said that proves Slade did not have the money and intended all along for TSU to pick up the tab.
"The state has managed to put together a compelling case that connects the dots between Priscilla Slade and a king's ransom of funding that she apparently diverted for her own personal use," KPRC Local 2 legal analyst Brian Wice said.
Mike DeGeurin, Slade's attorney, said he would call one or two witnesses for the defense.
KPRC Local 2 has learned that Earnest Gibson, a former university regent, has been subpoenaed. Gibson voted against firing Slade after the misspending allegations came to light. Former TSU President James Douglas testified on Wednesday that he never used the university's money for personal expenses.
"It's kind of dividing the community," he said. "I think there are some people who say that she did wrong and she ought to pay for it, and then there are other people who say she did some great things for the university and they think it's unfair to prosecute her."
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.
Previous Stories: - September 24, 2007: Jury Could Soon Decide Slade's Fate
- September 22, 2007: Scandals Affect Drop In TSU Enrollment
- September 14, 2007: TSU Employee Oversaw Slade's Landscaping
- 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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