Repayment sought from former tech center director; Sexton acknowledges wrongdoing during tenure at Newbern vo-tech

Sexton, a 33-year veteran of the center, submitted a letter of retirement on July 13. On July 30, the audit said, Sexton signed affidavits "acknowledging, among other things, absence from work without taking leave, directing TTC employees to work on your personal properties, using student and faculty resources to benefit your personal business, and carrying a weapon in a state vehicle."

Sexton has until Monday to either approve the state to withhold his accrued but unpaid annual leave, or contest the matter.

Regents Chan-cellor Charles Manning said Tuesday that Sexton has not replied to either option, "but the money's not his.

"It is the Ten-nessee Board of Regents's system's, and we can retain that full amount."

Manning said one calculation of the misappropriation of labor and funding from the school arrived at more than $14,000, but officials settled on the lesser figure. Sexton will not receive any of his accrued leave, said a letter Manning sent to Sexton on Sept. 7, due to his "gross misconduct" that could have led to his termination had he not resigned.

Sexton admitted in an affidavit to most of the complaints, including being absent without taking proper leave for days at a time.

The review details several instructors felt they would lose their jobs if they refused to work on Sexton's rental properties in Newbern. One instructor told investigators he had made an average of 10 repair calls a year for Sexton since 1998. Another told investigators Sexton ordered him in October 2006 to take a TTC air compressor to Sexton's house, then instructed the worker to used the center's charge account at Lowe's to buy another one for the school.

Others said they were forced to perform repair work on Sexton's rental properties in Newbern, and personal property in Newbern, near Ripley and at Reelfoot Lake.

The audit noted several vehicles donated to the TTC's automotive skills courses by local dealerships "had disappeared in the past." A 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix was explained to have disappeared, with the only evidence it existed proved by June 1992 newspaper article about a local dealer donating the car. The cab of a donated 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck was found "at a private individual's residence in a nearby community" in August 2007 before it was returned to the school. The report said Sexton denied any knowledge of the event.

The audit detailed a conflict of interest between Sexton's post at the TTC from 1994 to 1998, when he owned a used car lot in Dyersburg. Oil changes, bulb replacements, brake repairs, radiator replacements, timing cover replacements and engine diagnosis were done at the business using work orders in the TTC's automotive classroom, an instructor's affidavit said.

Sexton is reported to have purchase a tractor and mower in March 2004 at an auction of surplus equipment at the center, but the items were not included in the public advertisement, the report said.

The audit also notes Sexton instructed TTC staff to design and create signs with the likeness of State Rep. Philip Pinion (D-Union City) for use at a Newbern ballpark in 2004. In spring 2007, the report said Sexton again instructed students to create a sign with Pinion's likeness for the Dyer County Rescue Squad building, which was built on land donated by Pinion.

The report said it "is unclear if these signs would be considered campaign materials."

An instructor told investigators "other signs had been made in the past for candidates in local city elections," and candidates had made donations to the TTC for the signs.

One affadavit said Sexton directed school personnel to draft a drawing of an electrical service pole for Newbern Electric System.

In July 2005, almost $500 was paid by the school to Cape Electric for materials to build a temporary utility pole. The audit said Sexton admitted the pole was at a resort property he owned in Saltillo, Tenn.

Students cleaning and servicing Sexton's state-owned Ford Crown Victoria in October 2006 were reported to have found "two or three handguns" wrapped in rags, "hidden in the spare tire well located in the trunk."

In February 2007, Sexton was reported to have taken a $229.95 chain saw charged on the school account for his personal use. The saw was at his house until Sexton told a worker to return it to the school on July 15, during the investigation. A camera found missing from the school was also found at his residence.

During the time state investigators were at the center in July, a half-gallon of "homemade wine" was found in a cooler in the maintenance building. Sexton admitted the wine belonged to him.

The review found administrative and internal control weaknesses, including lack of oversight of fuel cards, cash handling, the annual catfish fry, donations and a raft of other matters. An unofficial petty cash fund unaccounted by school records was also listed.

The $7,783.82 sought for redress "does not reflect the economic benefit to the director if he had obtained similar services on the open market," said the review.

"For whatever reason Sexton did these things," said Manning. "I really regret at the end of his service this happened. He did a great deal of good for many, many people in your community for many years. He should be remembered for that."