SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed an amended complaint against former Western New Mexico University President Dr. Joseph Shepard and the university’s former Board of Regents, accusing them of working together to greenlight a controversial $1.9 million buyout.
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The buyout went to Shepard as he planned to resign from the position on Jan. 14. In an attempt to get the buyout back, the New Mexico Department of Justice claimed in the amended complaint that Shepard “knowingly” helped or encouraged the board to prioritize his buyout over the board’s financial responsibility to the university.
Torrez also now claims the university illegally approved paying Shephard’s legal fees related to the buyout.
This move by the NMDOJ comes after the department tried to stop Shepared from accessing the severance payment until it was determined whether it rightfully belongs to him. That effort was blocked in January when a judge ruled there was not enough information to justify stopping Shepard from using the money that was already in his possession.
The Board of Regents was comprised of board president Mary Hotvedt, members Mary Haviland, Dan Lopez, and Dalva Moellenberg, and student regent Trent Jones. Regents Haviland, Lopez, and Moellenberg resigned their positions. The terms of Hotvedt and Jones expired on Dec. 31, according to the Governor’s Office. However, Jones, who is also the secretary/treasurer of the board, still remains in his position.