The criminal complaint unsealed today in the University Place case charges former UI financial vice president Jerry Wallace with two counts of misuse of public money by officers, a felony. The complaint charged that Wallace falsified accounts and loaned or appropriated UI money “on behalf of for the benefit of the University of Idaho Foundation and/or others.” Both crimes were alleged to have occurred between November 2000 and March 2003.

In a press release, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said the criminal complaint unsealed today makes “no allegation of theft” against Wallace “or anyone else involved in the project.” Instead, he said, “The charges stem from the creation, use and audit characterization of University of Idaho Agency Account SCZ307, which was a funding source for expenditures related to the University Place/Boise Project from approximately November 2000 through early 2003.”

A summons was issued for Wallace to appear in Latah County court on Nov. 13.

Thompson said the criminal complaint originally was filed under seal on June 30, 2006 in order to “toll potential statutes of limitation and allow the state investigators to complete their inquiries. Based on those follow-up inquiries, and consultation between the participating investigative agencies, the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office has elected to proceed.”

The case is a result of “extensive” investigations by both state and federal authorities, Thompson said. “The two jurisdictions have been working closely. Based on the information gathered by the investigations to date, the state has decided to proceed with charges and expects that the federal authorities will be closely watching the progress of the state case.”

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