Robert Sample
A former Kansas University employee is serving one month in Douglas County Jail, after pleading guilty to charges of stealing thousands of dollars of equipment from various campus buildings, court records said.
Robert Lee Sample, 56, also will spend one year on probation for three felony theft counts and was ordered to pay $18,650 in restitution, prosecutors said.
He was arrested for stealing expensive cameras, computers, cleaning items and musical instruments. The thefts were reported between June 22, 2004, and Aug. 15, 2008.
Sample was a building systems technician senior and worked at the university for nearly 18 years. His employment at KU ended Sept. 5, 2008.
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mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
One month in jail, one year probation, restitution. that's it. doesn't seem hardly enough.
somebodynew (anonymous) says…
Yeah, I hope nobody is holding their breath until he actually pays that restitution. Just my guess, but if he stole all that stuff, he sold it for money - - so it would follow he doesn't have 18K just sitting around to pay that back. And now he doesn't have a job.
Yeah, the check is in the mail !!!
lawthing (anonymous) says…
I dont understand how one person can sell this much stolen property for this long to the pawn shop and not have a red flag by the police who take the tickets!
JoRight (anonymous) says…
Well, $18k is what they could prove. I guarantee there is a lot more than that. . .it seemed like a bimonthly occurrence. Some of the projectors & other AV equipment is ridiculously expensive.
tonymontana (anonymous) says…
KU is an evil institution. This man deserves a medal.
Guardian (anonymous) says…
If I remember correctly, some of the property was allegedly sold to Yellow House, which, from what they claim, is not a pawn shop and therefore not subject to the same rules as a pawn shop.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…
Steal from KU, one month in jail
KU student kills local man, 14 days
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/dec...
geekin_topekan (anonymous) says…
Huh,whodda thunk?
I thought it would be one of those convicted felons that KU attempts to screen out to keep their stuff safe. Proves once again;the dangerous ones are on the street. The convicted ones are the ones who got caught and are looking to make an honest living.
onceajhawkalwaysajhawk (anonymous) says…
Part of his probation should be to continue working in a (supervised position) and his most of his pay go towards the $18K.
Ceallach (anonymous) says…
Yes, indeed, punish him! Who does he think he is? It's not like he's a CEO or a politician.
bd (anonymous) says…
Wow! 18 years down the drain, and 56 years old to boot!
His life is over!
Pywacket (anonymous) says…
Ceal~ I hope we agree that the answer is not to let people like Sample off free, but rather to ALSO enforce the laws violated by so-called "white-collar" criminals.
This guy deserved what he got--and actually got off pretty light.
And good luck to KU on getting any restitution out of him. It will be just like that ass who ripped off the KU bus system so many years back. I think he moved to Colorado. How much restitution has KU ever received from him? Last I heard, it wasn't much.