Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 3, 1993 TAG: 9312030185
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FREDERICKSBURG LENGTH: Short
C. Franklin Mason, who was the assistant vice president for business and finance at the school, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Circuit Court.
He said he was having financial problems and had planned to return the money. The money was repaid shortly before Mason's arrest in June.
About the same time, Mason, 40, was suspected of embezzling approximately $75,000 from St. George's Episcopal Church, where he was the treasurer. No criminal charges were filed in that case, and all of the money has been repaid.
Mason received a 10-year sentence, but most of it was suspended. Judge William H. Ledbetter Jr. ordered him to report Monday to jail, where he is to remain until Jan. 6.
The judge also prohibited Mason from holding a job in which he is solely responsible for someone else's money.
Mason said he took the college funds over a one-month period because he was deep in debt.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.