Tag: State Purchasing

Deliberations Begin in Ex-Shepherd Administrator's Trial

Jury deliberations have begun in the trial of a former Shepherd University administrator accused of making unauthorized purchases with a state-issued card.

Fifty-year-old Elizabeth “Libby” Shanton of Martinsburg is charged with one count of fraudulent schemes and 53 counts of misuse of a state-issued purchasing card.

The Journal reports that a Berkeley County Circuit Court jury began deliberations Monday afternoon following two weeks of testimony.

Shanton is accused of using a state purchasing card to buy more than $85,000 worth of goods and services that were not for official state purposes.

Shanton’s attorney, Shawn McDermott, told jurors on Monday in closing arguments that she was a scapegoat for a “liberal culture of spending” at Shepherd.

Audit: College Bought Condoms, Sex Enhancers with State Cash

An audit says Shepherd University employees used state money to buy sexual enhancers and other items that could have been deemed “extravagant,” ”unallowable” or for “personal use.”

The Legislative Post Audit Division released the report to a legislative panel Sunday.

The audit shows a $57 receipt for condoms, K-Y Jelly, and Vital Erotic Shots. The purchase, titled “RA Program,” was approved in 2012.

Another employee paid $1,151 to rent a car for a month and a half while state cars were available.

Employees bought $1,272 worth of clothes for university police that weren’t part of the uniform.

Another employee spent more than $1,000 on personal meals that weren’t flagged as unallowable.

About 19 percent of the $323,000 in purchasing card transactions reviewed in the audit had missing or no documentation.

WVSU President's Expenses Include NFL Tickets, Alcohol

  The State Auditor’s Office recently flagged as suspicious charges on a state travel card that included Chicago Bears football tickets, alcohol and other purchases that typically aren’t allowed.

The Charleston Gazette says these purchases were allowed because the travel card belonged to West Virginia State University President Brian Hemphill.

Colleges are among agencies that are exempt from state travel and purchasing policies.

West Virginia State Board of Governors chairman Tom Susman says he doesn’t believe Hemphill did anything wrong. He says the board gave Hemphill the travel card so he could cultivate donors.

To his knowledge, Hemphill says no policy was violated. But he will make any appropriate changes to the system.

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