The former director of the Williams Educational Fund has entered a diversion agreement to avoid being tried on charges of making false writings.
The diversion agreement document for Scott McMichael awaits the signature of Douglas County District Judge Mike Malone, who was in court late Thursday.
Douglas County Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney said the term of the diversion is two years and involves restitution and community-service work. Other specifics of the diversion were not made available to the public Thursday.
McMichael, 48, Lawrence, was charged in November with three counts of making false writings. The charges allege McMichael, while head of the Williams Educational Fund, made false travel expense vouchers for the following dates: Sept. 7, 2000; Jan. 30, 2001, and Aug. 2, 2001.
McMichael resigned his position Aug. 10, 2001, citing personal and family reasons. About the same time, the Kansas University Public Safety Office and KU auditors began examining entertainment vouchers given to the KU athletics department.
McMichael was scheduled Thursday to make a first appearance in district court on the charges. That appearance was previously scheduled and continued twice. Because the diversion agreement was reached before Thursday's hearing, McMichael did not have to appear.
"Whenever an individual has an attorney in advance, it's not unusual to try to resolve it," Kenney said.
It's rare for someone who has been charged and arrested not to have a first appearance for formal reading of charges, said Mark Ohlemeir, spokesman for the Kansas Attorney General's Office. Ohlemeir said there was nothing in the law, however, that says there must be a first appearance.
McMichael received a summons to appear in court but was never arrested. His attorney, Bill Skepnek, has represented McMichael since the start of the KU investigation. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.
McMichael is a former KU quarterback and three-year letterman (1974-1976). The Williams Fund raises money for KU athletic scholarships.
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