A long-serving University of Arizona professor has pleaded guilty to taking tens of thousands of dollars from the university.
KVOA-TV reports that 80-year-old John Marchello on Aug. 11 pleaded guilty to felony theft and has agreed to pay $83,020 in restitution to the university.
Marchello, a tenured professor of animal sciences who worked at the university for nearly 50 years, was accused of misappropriating money from a student-run meat store that he oversaw. He resigned in April, just days before he was indicted.
Prosecutors say Marchello diverted a total of $223,000 from the university and have begun a civil case against him seeking another $140,000. The civil case has been on hold until the criminal case is over.
Sentencing for the criminal case is set for Nov. 21.
