OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Two former UW-Oshkosh leaders accused of illegally spending taxpayer money now say their rights were violated and the criminal case should be thrown out.
Former Chancellor Richard Wells and former Vice-Chancellor Tom Sonnleitner appeared in court Thursday.
The state filed criminal charges against Wells and Sonnleitner more than a year ago.
And now, both sides appeared to be at a stalemate.
“The defense has filed a motion to dismiss the criminal complaint, alleging various problems with the application of 946.12, as well as some due process violations. We would like to get a ruling from the court on that, prior to moving forward,” said assistant general, Randall Schneider.
946.12 refers to the law Wells and Sonnleitner are accused of breaking.
In this case, it’s misconduct while in office while serving as chancellor and vice-chancellor at UW-Oshkosh.
They’re accused of cutting financial deals they didn’t have the authority to make.
“There are literally thousands, tens of thousands of pages of discovery that’s been exchanged, there’s been ongoing discussions between the lawyers on the nature and extent of those, and other related issues,” said Sonnleitner’s attorney, Steven Biskupic.
Wells and Sonnleitner are accused of mismanaging the school’s money.
They allegedly moved millions in school money, funded by taxpayers, to the school’s now bankrupt private foundation.
Prosecutors say the goal was to help pay for five building projects.
The projects include the Oshkosh Sports Complex, Alumni Center, a hotel and two biodigesters.
Wells and Sonnleitner pleaded not guilty earlier this year.
Their case is now heading into contested status.
“I’m confident that they’ve been working diligently on this matter and apparently, at this point in time, there’s been a point that no resolution has been reached, so therefore we are going to proceed forward in a contested manner,” said Winnebago County, Judge John Jorgensen.
A hearing has been scheduled for January 15th on Wells and Sonnleitner’s motions to dismiss the charges.
