Jan. 9—Western New Mexico University has processed a $1.9 million payment to embattled outgoing President Joseph Shepard amid the state’s effort to block the buyout, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced Thursday.
The university, whose leadership has been embroiled in allegations of misuse of public funds on such things as lavish international trips, processed the payment Jan. 2, days before the New Mexico Department of Justice filed an emergency motion seeking an injunction to halt it.
Now, to head off the money at the pass, Torrez’s office has filed an emergency supplemental motion asking a state court to issue a restraining order blocking Shepard from spending the funds and to impose a constructive trust for the money.
Torrez said the university concealed the payment’s processing while simultaneously sandbagging the Department of Justice’s requests for records during the holiday break.
“We were getting one answer when we were asking for the documents, and that answer is, ‘Everyone’s on break,’ ” Torrez said. “Apparently, the only one not on break was the person who was responsible for cutting checks.”
Shepard resigned as university president last month after an investigation by the State Auditor’s Office found more than $363,000 in wasteful spending and improper use of public funds.
Shepard’s buyout was meant to be processed by Jan. 15, the day his resignation becomes effective.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
Esteban Candelaria is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. He covers child welfare and the state Children, Youth and Families Department. Learn more about Report for America at reportforamerica.org.