State declines to prosecute former CFCC president Ted Spring

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Today, the NC Conference of District Attorneys announced Ted Spring, former president of Cape Fear Community College, would not face criminal charges.

In a letter to District Attorney Ben David, White Collar Crime Resource Prosecutor Tammy Smith says she has reviewed this matter to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant criminal charges. She says she has reviewed the documents, records and other information presented to her and after a thorough review, has decided criminal charges are not supported by the evidence.

This all began when Ted Spring resigned from CFCC in January of 2015.

Soon after, New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David asked the SBI to investigate Cape Fear Community College, in regards to allegations that former CFCC President, Ted Spring, asked an employee to fabricate a report in exchange for a promotion.

Then in March, Spring  filed a lawsuit against the college’s Board of Trustees.  In the suit, he said he wanted his job back along with damages of at least $25,000 plus attorney fees.

Documents filed in court provide more background into the case.  According to the Board of Trustees’ Statement of Material Facts, Spring gave the Chief Financial Officer for the college a direct order to pay his wife’s travel expenses.

Click here to read the Statement of Material Facts

The CFO would not give Spring a college gas card, because she feared he’d use it to fill up his wife’s car.  A subordinate also felt Spring blackmailed her with a promotion to get her to lie to the board of trustees. The records also say that in order to avoid media scrutiny, Spring and other college employees used private email accounts to speak with a crisis management consultant.

Last summer, an investigative audit of Cape Fear Community College by the Office of the State Auditor was critical of Spring’s spending, who auditors say spent more that $35,000 in discretionary funds for personal expenses.

The Office of the State Auditor conducted the audit to investigate complaints about improper travel reimbursements paid to Spring and allegations about violations of college and state policies related to the performance of his duties as president.

After that, state prosecutors announced they were beginning this criminal investigation into the former CFCC president.

As for today’s announcement that the Conference of District Attorneys will not file charges, the DA’s Office says it had a conflict with this case and cannot make any comment on this decision.

Spring’s attorney, Gary Shipment, sent this statement, ” In February, 2015, I called the efforts to institute a criminal investigation much less charges a witch hunt.  We are pleased that this witch hunt is over and thank the SBI and the District Attorney’s office for their thorough and thoughtful investigation, analysis and conclusions.  We look forward to our continued efforts to restore Dr. Spring’s reputation that we contend was wrongfully taken from him.”