CONWAY, AR — A former top University of Central Arkansas administrator faces up to 60 years behind bars in a trial set to begin Monday morning. Prosecutors say Jack Gillian, 57, allowed a student to steal tests from professor offices.
“I’m really glad it’s finally going to trial, because it just kind of went off to the side and no one heard about it for a while,” said Brooks Maszka, a UCA sophomore.
Prosecutors say Gillean, who was chief of staff at UCA for 16 years, gave student Cameron Clark a master key so he could steal tests on 15-20 occasions.
Gillian is even accused of accompanying Clark on one of the burglaries.
Another UCA sophomore, DJ Alven, says the Gillean case “puts a little tarnish” on the university.
“It’s kind of like stealing from kids as well, because were over here paying… money to get an education,” Alven said.
Jury selection concluded Friday with news the judge had ruled testimony about a sexual relationship between Gillian and male student who’s also a witness will be allowed in trail despite defense objections.
Pretrial motions in the case contain prickly exchanges between the defense and prosecution including one from Gillean’s lawyers attempting unsuccessfully to subpoena prosecutors.
The trial is being held in Van Burean County after the judge ruled pretrial exposure to the case in Faulkner County was too great.
If found guilty, UCA students said Sunday they’d like to see their former administrator face harsh punishment.
“He should go to prison for it,” Maszka said.
Gillian resigned from the school in June of 2012. He faces six felony counts of Commercial Burglary. Prosecutors have filed two other charges in connection with their investigation. They will be considered in a separate trial.
“I’m really glad it’s finally going to trial, because it just kind of went off to the side and no one heard about it for a while,” said Brooks Maszka, a UCA sophomore.
Prosecutors say Gillean, who was chief of staff at UCA for 16 years, gave student Cameron Clark a master key so he could steal tests on 15-20 occasions.
Gillian is even accused of accompanying Clark on one of the burglaries.
Another UCA sophomore, DJ Alven, says the Gillean case “puts a little tarnish” on the university.
“It’s kind of like stealing from kids as well, because were over here paying… money to get an education,” Alven said.
Jury selection concluded Friday with news the judge had ruled testimony about a sexual relationship between Gillian and male student who’s also a witness will be allowed in trail despite defense objections.
Pretrial motions in the case contain prickly exchanges between the defense and prosecution including one from Gillean’s lawyers attempting unsuccessfully to subpoena prosecutors.
The trial is being held in Van Burean County after the judge ruled pretrial exposure to the case in Faulkner County was too great.
If found guilty, UCA students said Sunday they’d like to see their former administrator face harsh punishment.
“He should go to prison for it,” Maszka said.
Gillian resigned from the school in June of 2012. He faces six felony counts of Commercial Burglary. Prosecutors have filed two other charges in connection with their investigation. They will be considered in a separate trial.