CCSN administrator pleads not guilty in time-sheet scandal

Friday, March 25, 2005 | 10 a.m.

A Community College of Southern Nevada site administrator pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in District Court to charges that she helped an employee falsify his time sheet.

Authorities allege that Autumn Keyes, site administrator for the college's A.D. Guy Center on N Street near Washington Avenue and for the Western High School High Tech Center, knowingly signed off on time sheets that recorded hours employee Craig Hopkins worked at another job.

John Sarb, Keyes' lawyer, said his client did not knowingly sign any incorrect time sheets and that Sarb was "mystified" by the felony charge against her for being a principal to obtaining money under false pretenses.

"I'd venture to say that incorrect time sheets get processed with fair regularity in the state system, and no one else is being brought up on felony charges," Sarb said.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen alleged Hopkins obtained more than $8,000 between January 2001 and August 2002 for hours he did not work. Both Hopkins and Keyes face one to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.

Keyes is scheduled for trial Aug. 29. Hopkins, who pleaded not guilty to obtaining money under false pretenses in February, is scheduled for trial April 11.

Keyes continues to work at the college as an administrator, but CCSN President Richard Carpenter suspended her payroll duties in November. Carpenter fired Hopkins, a part-time employee, on the basis that his services were no longer needed.

Hopkins recruited community members to utilize the college's free computer services, college officials said.

Keyes has worked for the community college for 31 years, Sarb said. The A.D. Guy Center is named after her late brother, District Judge Addeliar Guy III.