Indicted CSN employees on paid leave

Four College of Southern Nevada employees indicted last week on allegations of involvement in the theft of materials and equipment from the college have been placed on paid leave, a college official said Wednesday.

William "Bob" Gilbert, CSN's associate vice president for facilities management, is accused of stealing materials and equipment from the school to help build his Mount Charleston home.

He has denied the allegations.

The other three employees are Thad Skinner, construction manager, Matthew Goins, facilities manager, and George Casal, building construction inspector.

School spokeswoman K.C. Brekken said each case now is a personnel matter, and the college is working with legal counsel with the Nevada System of Higher Education on legal options.

System Chief Counsel Bart Patterson would not comment on the specifics of the matter, but said the college has three options in such cases.

College officials can wait until the criminal process has been completed before taking any action; they can move forward with some form of disciplinary action if college officials believe they have independent grounds to do so; or they can negotiate with employees to obtain resignations.

The indictment, issued Sept. 25, alleges the thefts had been going on between 2002 and 2007. Gilbert is charged with 13 counts of theft and four counts of misconduct of a public officer.

"I welcome the opportunity to prove no wrongdoing," Gilbert said Friday.

Skinner faces 10 counts of being a principal to theft. Goins faces three counts of being a principal to theft and two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses. Casal faces two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses.

All 34 counts are felonies.