CONWAY — The former University of Central Arkansas chief of staff accused of providing keys so a student could steal tests from professors' offices has surrendered to police.
Jack Gillean, who is facing three felony counts of commercial burglary, one felony count of fraudulent insurance acts and one misdemeanor count of issuing a false statement, surrendered to sheriff's deputies about 8:45 a.m. at the Faulkner County jail Unit II.
Gillean didn't answer questions from reporters, referring them instead to his attorney, Nicki Nicolo.
Nicolo, who arrived with Gillean and Gillean's two sisters, repeatedly stressed that her client is not guilty of the charges.
"I don't know why he's been charged," Nicolo said. "I know the prosecution has some problems with the witnesses they're trying to put forward. And of course, Mr. Gillean professes his innocence."
Gillean left the jail shortly before 11 a.m. He again didn't answer questions, though Nicolo did.
"It was pretty good — everybody in there was pretty nice and we got him in and out of there," she said of the booking process.
Gillean's arrest came after he previously indicated he would surrender Monday and then, when that didn't materialize, on Tuesday.
Gillean, who resigned from UCA in June after being questioned about the keys, was charged last week.
The 55-year-old was interviewed by police after Cameron Stark, 24, was found to be in possession of two of Gillean's keys while police investigated Stark's role in a purported drug theft.
Stark cooperated with authorities in return for limited immunity from prosecution, telling investigators that Gillean helped him cheat on exams and accompanied him on one burglary, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Nicolo said Stark has "credibility issues," adding "there will be some revealing information" about Stark that will come to light as the case progresses. She declined to release specifics, but said it relates to Stark's credibility and has nothing to do with Gillean.
Gillean's bail was set at $17,825. The case has been assigned to Faulkner County Circuit Judge David Reynolds.