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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 8, 1981)
Verdict expected today Prosecution rests in ex-coach’s trial By JEFF BAKER Of the Emerald A verdict is expected today in the theft trial of ex-assistant University basketball coach Ron Billingslea. Billingslea is accused of stealing $1,680 in state funds through an account in his name at Bronson Travel agency. Deputy district attorney Darryl Larson rested the state’s case Tuesday afternoon after calling six witnesses, including Univer sity basketball coach Jim Haney and Greg Robinson, former athletic department business manager. Before the defense calls its witnesses, Judge William Beck ett must rule on a motion for acquittal submitted by Billings lea’s attorney, Larry Roloff. Out of the jury’s presence, Roloff argued that the money Billingslea is accused of stealing is Bronson Travel’s, not the University’s. He claimed a policy between the University and Bronson stated the “agency must bear the financial consequences of misdirection of funds.” Therefore, Roloff argued, the case against Billingslea is not a criminal one because he did not steal state funds. Larson re sponded by quoting sections of state law dealing with theft and by arguing that Bronson was merely a “convenient conduit" that Billingslea used to turn un used airline tickets into cash. The defense did not contest evidence that Billingslea received two checks from the Bronson account in April, 1978, one month after Billingslea left the University. They also did not contest evidence showing the first check was cashed and the second check was cashed par tially, with the remainder placed in Billingslea’s checking and savings accounts. Former basketball coach Dick Harter cast a long shadow over the trial. It was shown that Harter received a $201 check from a personal account of his own. He was subpoenaed as a witness, but a Pennsylvania judge ruled last month that it would cause him undue hard ship to appear. Under persistent questioning from Roloff, former Bronson agent Peggy Hamlin denied set ting up an account for Billings lea at Harter's request. “I’m under oath, so I'll say I do not recall,” Hamlin said. Hamlin also couldn’t recall personal accounts for Billings lea, Harter or Andy Christoff, a former assistant football coach. She didn’t recall any checks Degree requisites may change The University Assembly will vote on two graduation requirement motions today at 3:30 p.m. in Room 150 Geology. Both motions were submitted by Thelma Greenfield, chairer of the Committee on the Curriculum. Last week the University Senate approved 19-10 with two abstentions Greenfield’s motion to defer until 1983 instituting a math requirement for a bachelor of science degree. Richard Hill said at that meeting that instituting the requirement next fall, as approved by the Assembly in November of 1979, would cost the University $74,000 for additional graduate teach ing fellows to teach beginning mathematics and language courses. “We'd have to cut positions in other departments because they aren’t in our budget," Hill said. Senate members George Struble, a computer science professor, and Lewis Ward, a math professor, strongly disagreed with changing the previously approved Assembly legislation. Greenfield’s other motion would change course, cluster and procedural requirements for graduation. The Senate could not take an official vote on the motion because it lacked a quorum. However, the Senate did tally a straw vote of 8-7 with two abstentions against the motion. issued to Billingslea or any refunds for unused tickets. Hamlin formerly handled travel business for the Universi ty basketball team. Head coach Jim Haney tes tified that he was unaware of any personal travel accounts until investigators contacted him. Haney, who worked with Billingslea for six years when both were assistant coaches under Harter, said he dropped off unused tickets at Bronson and ‘‘didn’t know what hap pened to them after that.” Haney said it isn’t unusual for travel plans to change during basketball recruiting. Unused tickets are common, he added. The trial will resume today at 10 a m. in the Lane County Courthouse. Selected Running Shoes .Reduced 25% Bermuda $39.95 .Reduced to - $28.95 Liberator $39.95 .Reduced to - $29.95 Waffle II $32.95 .Reduced to - $24.95 Come by and enter our Boston marathon contest WE’RE THE ONLY 'ONLY STORE 10th & Olive In the Atrium 342-5155 r V-Neck Jersey (Gold w/white sleeve stripes) reg. $8.95 SALE $5.99 Spring Sportswear Sale! Velour V-Neck Sweatshirt (Green w/white and tan trim) reg. $16.95 SALE $10.99 Ladies’ Fashion Top (Maize color w/green trim) reg. $9.98 SALE $6.99 Gray/Gold/White V-Neck Jersey reg. $14.98 SALE $9.99 uo BOOKSTORE 13th & Kincaid Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30 Sat 10:00-2:00 Sale ends Saturday, April 11, 1981 Limited to stock on hand. Textbooks 686-3520 • General Books 686-3510 • Supplies 686-4331
