KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Former worker admits defrauding university

A Florida man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a fraudulent scheme that charged Rockhurst University for work that was not performed, U.S. Atty. Todd Graves said.

Ralph E. Dunn, 64, of Niceville, Fla., pleaded guilty to defrauding the university as a part of a kickback scheme, and to filing a false tax return. He is a former director of the physical plant at Rockhurst.

In his plea, Dunn admitted to conspiring with others and taking more than $100,000 in bribes from June 1998 to June 2001.

The scheme involved a company that submitted invoices to the university, charging more than the value of the work performed and charging for projects that were never done, Graves said. Rockhurst paid the amounts listed on the inflated and fictitious invoices, and the company paid bribes to Dunn for approving those payments, Graves said.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Strip-search victims sue former teachers

Seven lawsuits have been filed against former teachers accused of strip-searching students last year at an elementary school.

Six of the suits, including one filed this week, have been filed in Jackson County Circuit Court. The seventh suit was filed in federal court.

The alleged incidents took place in March of last year at Pilcher Elementary School during a search for $5 in missing lunch money. The $5 was later found in a boy’s restroom, but not as a result of the search.

Three of the Jackson County lawsuits are against Thomas L. Sims, who was a physical education teacher at the school; the others are against Betty Bettis, who taught third grade.