As the trial involving former UCA Chief of Staff Jack Gillean draws closer, his attorneys have yet again filed a motion to seal filings.
Gillean, 57, is charged with five felony counts of commercial burglary, one felony count of fraudulent insurance acts and a misdemeanor charge for issuing a false financial statement.
He was charged in October 2012 and pleaded not guilty in November 2012.
The trial, set to begin next month, will relate to the commercial burglary charges.
Gillean’s attorneys accused in the motion the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Log Cabin Democrat of working against their client and aiding the prosecution, a move that contributed to a motion for trial venue change.
Judge Charles E. Clawson Jr. approved the request, citing negative pretrial publicity in Faulkner County.
“There is little doubt that the prosecuting attorney [Cody Hiland] and the press, particularly the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, are in lockstep,” the motion states.
At the June 11, 2013 pretrial hearing in Conway, Clawson said the media attention created a negative environment threat that was “too great.”
According to section five of the Jan. 31 motion, Gillean’s attorneys questioned the fairness of asking during the Oct. 4, 2013 hearing that Gillean be tested for drugs later that day. Faulkner County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Troy Braswell asked for the test, but Clawson denied the request and provided no comment, according to the motion.
Gillean resigned from his UCA position June 15, 2012 following a university investigation. President Tom Courtway questioned him about a grand master key that was lost months prior. UCAPD notified campus officials about a former student, Cameron Stark, stealing prescription medicine.
Stark was granted immunity in the trial. James Santiago, Jared Santiago and Stephanie Paladino were also granted immunity in October 2013. Paladino and Jared Santiago are former students and James Santiago is a biology major.
UCAPD Lt. Preston Grumbles found Gillean’s master key in Stark’s pocket. When asked how he got the keys, Stark said, “Jack [Gillean] gave them to me.” Stark said he used the keys about 20 times to steal tests from science and history professors’ offices.
Jury selection for Gillean’s trial is set for March 6-7 at Van Buren County Circuit Court in Clinton. The trial proceedings will start March 10.
