BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Two University of Cincinnati professors are facing criminal charges of theft in office for allegedly skimming thousands of dollars through improper billing.
Although the two cases are unrelated, both men were indicted Thursday by a Hamilton County grand jury.
The first indictment charges Norman Harris, the former head of the African American Studies department, with tampering with records, having an unlawful interest in a public contract and four counts of theft in office.
Mr. Harris resigned as department head in 1994 and was a professor at UC until last year. He left after learning that UC Police were investigating his conduct.
Prosecutors say Mr. Harris cost UC about $12,000 because he accepted improper fees, filed false travel vouchers and double-billed the university for expenses.
University officials say they notified prosecutors after a lengthy investigation. "We've had an ongoing investigation for some time," said UC spokesman Greg Hand. "We noted some irregularities during Harris' tenure and the police were called in."
Mr. Harris could not be reached for comment, but earlier this year he denied any wrongdoing.
UC officials said then that many of the allegations deal with Mr. Harris' relationship with UC and his role as director of the African American Academy, an elementary school he founded in 1994 in South Cumminsville.
The school, the first in Greater Cincinnati to have an Afrocentric curriculum, closed in 1996.
Prosecutor Joseph Deters said Mr. Harris would face a maximum possible sentence of 11 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.
The other indictment names Edward Knepp, a UC faculty member and coordinator of the Medical Technology Program.
He is charged with theft in office and tampering with records for allegedly signing false time sheets for Patricia Campbell, a part-time employee. Ms. Campbell was indicted on the same charges. Prosecutors say the time sheets were filed from July 1993 to February 1998 and cost the university about $40,000. If convicted, each would face up to six years in jail and a $12,500 fine.
"My office has always taken a policy of zero tolerance for the theft of public funds," Mr. Deters said.
