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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State University's former president was convicted of disorderly conduct and sentenced to probation Monday for his actions during a confrontation with the school's head groundskeeper last year.
McLean County Judge Michael Stroh sentenced Timothy Flanagan to a year of court supervision, which is a form of probation, and ordered him to perform 30 hours of community service and pay a $300 fine.
Prosecutors said that on Dec. 5, Flanagan screamed at Patrick Murphy, the school's grounds superintendent, at close range outside the president's on-campus home in a way that alarmed Murphy. Murphy was fired a short time later but has since been rehired.
In court Monday, prosecutors recounted witness testimony that described Flanagan having "lost it" while yelling at Murphy.
Flanagan's attorney, Steve Skelton, said in court that university workers had removed plants from outside the president's home that contained decorative lighting that belonged to the Flanagans.
Flanagan handed reporters a printed statement after leaving the courtroom.
"I regret raising my voice during this encounter and my choice of words was ill advised," it stated.
Flanagan resigned from the university in Normal in March. He had been hired in August at a $350,000 annual salary after working as president of Framingham State University in Massachusetts.
Flanagan and his wide have since moved out of state.
Larry Dietz replaced Flanagan as president.
Illinois State has just under 20,000 students and more than 3,500 employees. The school has a $413 million annual budget.
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Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com
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