[CPProt.net] Prosecution outlines library corruption case. Former Ocmulgee library director David C. Wilson faces trial on theft and grand jury witness tampering charges.

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Prosecution outlines library corruption case

Former Ocmulgee library director David C. Wilson faces trial on theft and
grand jury witness tampering charges. 

Larry Peterson
912.652.0367
larry.peterson at savannahnow.com

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DUBLIN - David C. Wilson treated the library system he ran as his "own
private fiefdom," looting it virtually at whim, a federal prosecutor said
Monday.

In contrast, Wilson, former head of the Ocmulgee Regional Library, was the
"most effective library director in the state," one of his defense attorneys
said.

The conflicting claims came during opening arguments on the first day of
Wilson's trial on five counts of theft and one of grand jury witness
tampering.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Newman outlined a series of alleged thefts by
the former library official, indicted in March by a federal grand jury.

Newman said Wilson stole a $6,199 lawn mower, drained a library bank
account, took library construction bricks and lumber, and received travel
money for trips not taken.

He also said Wilson's wife charged the repair of her Mercedes Benz to the
library. 

In addition, Newman said, Wilson paid the brother of a powerful state
legislator $10,500 for work that was done mostly by another person. 

The lawmaker, former state House Speaker Terry Coleman, had helped Wilson
win funding for major projects in the Ocmulgee system.

Newman said some of his contentions would form the basis for the theft
charges and others would be used to show that Wilson operated with "criminal
intent."

But defense attorney Page Pate said he'll show that Newman's contentions are
unfounded.

"This not a case about stolen money," Pate said. "Mr. Wilson did not steal
any money. There is no money missing at all."

He blamed alleged discrepancies in financial accounts on "disarray" in the
Ocmulgee system's recordkeeping.

Testimony by Ted Robertson, an expert defense witnesses, will show that
money Wilson spent went for its stated purpose, Pate said.

Pate also said Wilson was a pioneer in winning state money for new
libraries, innovative computer applications, and programs that let middle
Georgia residents earn advanced degrees without having to leave their
communities.

"I want you to recognize that there are two sides to this," Pate told the
jury.

Newman used State Librarian George Veatch and state library statistics to
undermine Pate's claim that Wilson was a highly effective director. At the
same time Wilson was the state's highest-paid public library official, his
system was devoting the smallest portion of its budget of any system in the
state to buying books and materials.

With only limited success, Pate sought to extract from Veatch
acknowledgement that there might be good reason for spending so little on
books and materials.

He also tried to get Veatch to agree that Wilson's accomplishments,
especially in winning state money for his libraries, entitled him to his
compensation. Newman said it reached $155,000 one year.

Veatch said it was "out of line" with the pay of directors of comparable
library systems.

The prosecution's case is due to continue today.


http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/100405/3334958.shtml