Criminal charges possible in University of Montana INSA space program inquiry

Missoula County Attorney Fred Van Valkenberg will determine whether state criminal theft charges should be filed against two former University of Montana officials and a former UM employee for potential conflicts of interest and nepotism violations.

Van Valkenberg was handed the case of UM’s beleaguered NASA-funded space research programs in a letter from John Connor, chief criminal counsel for the state attorney general’s office.

Connor’s letter gave Van Valkenberg responsibility to take “whatever action he deems appropriate,” and stated such violations are within the jurisdiction of the county attorney serving in the affected jurisdiction.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2006/06/28/news/local/news02.txt

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Previous Stories:

Montana Lawmakers question NASA grant spending for INSA http://www.matr.net/article-19585.html

Ethics Issues Raised in University of Montana Space Programs http://www.matr.net/article-19543.html

UM space center records investigated. NASA Office of Inspector General investigates the Northern Rockies Center for Space Privatization and the Inland Northwest Space Alliance http://www.matr.net/article-19317.html

INSA Fights PR Battle http://www.matr.net/article-19031.html

Investigation Into UM Space Center Will Involve Montana Senator Conrad Burns and Representative Denny Rehberg http://www.matr.net/article-18650.html

INSA, University of Montana, Senator Conrad Burns, Representative Denny Rehberg connected through current investigation http://www.matr.net/article-18562.html

Space Center (INSA) Investigation Casts Doubt on Montana University Leaders http://www.matr.net/article-18565.html

George Bailey, president of the Inland Northwest Space Alliance denies impropriety in Lloyd Chesnut and his wife earning nearly $130,000 at the company. http://www.matr.net/article-18460.html

Montana University Regents concerned about use of NASA funding. Wants to know what UM’s Northern Rockies Center for Space Privatization has to show for the $3 million it received from noncompetitive NASA grants http://www.matr.net/article-18360.html