OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) - Two former administrators of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony misconduct in connection with a financial scandal involving five building projects.
Former Chancellor Richard Wells, 72, and former Vice Chancellor Tom Sonnleitner, 79, pleaded guilty to one count each of misconduct in office. Wells and Sonnleitner entered their pleas as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
Judge John Jorgensen approved the pleas and dismissed four other counts against each defendant, the Milwaukee Journal Sentine l reported. Each defendant was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine plus more than $70,000 in restitution.
Wells and Sonnleitner apologized in court for their actions.
“It was never my intent to hurt the institution; it was to help, and I’m sorry,” Wells said.
Sonnleitner said he only wanted to make sure that students and staff had the resources to succeed.
Wells and Sonnleitner were accused of illegally funneling $11 million to the UW-Oshkosh Foundation to help it execute building projects and illegally promising to back the foundation’s loans. The foundation ultimately defaulted on the loans and filed for bankruptcy.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.