BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - Former Illinois State University President Timothy Flanagan pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge after an altercation with a worker in December.
The charge stems from an alleged altercation between Flanagan and a grounds crew worker outside of the university-owned presidents’ residence on Dec. 5. Flanagan has acknowledged yelling at the employee but denies he spat on or made contact with the man.
“We will defend vigorously this case,” Flanagan’s attorney, Stephanie Wong, said after the brief court appearance, according to The (Bloomington) Pantagraph (https://bit.ly/1np48qx ).
Flanagan resigned last month, days before the charge was filed. He took the top post at the university in August.
The worker, Patrick Murphy, was fired and is seeking to get his job back. University officials have declined comment on Murphy’s dismissal, calling it a confidential personnel matter.
After Flanagan’s resignation, the university’s governing board replaced him with Larry Dietz, the university’s vice president for student affairs. Dietz was the runner-up to Flanagan in last year’s presidential search.
The charge carries a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and up to $1,500 in fines. Flanagan is next due in McLean County court on May 28.
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Information from: The Pantagraph, https://www.pantagraph.com
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