Who will testify in Paul Krebs embezzlement trial? Court proceedings for former UNM athletics director begin Monday.

Jul. 16—Nearly eight years have passed since Paul Krebs, then the University of New Mexico athletics director and vice president for athletics, organized a golfing trip to Scotland that prosecutors allege was illegally paid for, in part, by public funds. Krebs faces two counts of felony embezzlement for allegedly misusing university and Lobo Club funds to help pay for the 2015 trip for himself, family members, former men's basketball coach Craig Neal, and prospective donors with no affiliation to the university. Former Attorney General Hector Balderas, who initially filed the charges in 2019, said the trial reflects a nationwide trend toward greater accountability for officials at institutions of higher education. "These campuses historically have operated with very little oversight," said Balderas, now president of Northern New Mexico College in Española. "We're starting to see more enforcement of rules and regulations and laws that apply to these public institutions." Balderas said. "I expect there will continue to be more and more scrutiny because these institutions have substantial amounts of public funds. It's important that the rule of law apply to colleges and universities, including athletic programs." Here's five things to know about the trial. Who is Paul Krebs? Krebs was hired in 2006 as UNM's athletics director and vice president for athletics. He was the longest-tenured AD in Mountain West Conference history at the time he announced his retirement in 2017. By then, Krebs was embroiled in a scandal prompted by journalists who were probing financial details of a 2015 golfing trip to Scotland. What charges does Krebs face? Krebs faces two felony counts of embezzlement. They are: Count 1 alleges that the UNM Athletics Department paid about $24,500 to pay for "golf tours" for three people not affiliated with UNM or the UNM Association.Count 2 alleges that Krebs used $13,625 in university funds to reimburse the Lobo Club For an "unreserved" golf tour package after Lobo Club funds were used to pay an out-of-state travel company a deposit for the cost of the trip. When and where will Krebs stand trial? Jury selection will begin Monday before 2nd Judicial District Judge Cindy Leos in Albuquerque. The trial is scheduled for five days. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez will oversee the prosecution. Who will testify in the trial? Participants in the 2015 Scotland trip included Neal, the former men's head basketball coach, and former Lobo Club executive director Kole McKamey. McKamey is slated to testify in Krebs' trial, but Neal is not, according to witness lists. UNM's costs for the trip allegedly included nearly $25,000 to pay for three private donors: Paul Gibson and Darin Davis, both of Albuquerque, and Raleigh Gardenhire of Chama. All three are on the state's witness list. Frank, who served as UNM's president from 2012 to 2017, and Harris, UNM's former chief financial officer and chief operations officer, are expected to testify about athletic department finances and Krebs' role in the Scotland trip. Also on the list is Larry Ryan, vice president for development at the UNM Foundation, who is expected to testify to the business relationship between the UNM Foundation, the Lobo Club and the athletics department. The state's witness list includes 21 people in all. What charges against Krebs were dismissed in June? The AG's Office in June dismissed four felony charges against Krebs, including Count 3, which alleged that Krebs embezzled $9,379 in UNM funds to pay his own expenses for the Scotland trip. Two other counts dismissed in June involved Krebs' alleged attempts to conceal evidence of his actions relating to a $25,000 donation Krebs allegedly made anonymously to the UNM Foundation in 2017. A fourth dismissed charge alleged Krebs unsuccessfully tried to commit tax fraud in excess of $2,500.