All news

Ex-USF official won't be charged

6/3/2009 1:12:00 PM

Ex-USF official won't be charged
By TOM BRENNAN, tbrennan@tampatrib.com
Published: June 3, 2009, TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online ©2009 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General company

TAMPA - The state won't prosecute a former University of South Florida official for taking a bicycle, because he successfully completed an intervention program for first-time offenders.  State Attorney Mark Ober announced the decision Tuesday, saying his office would not charge Abdul Rao, a USF senior associate vice president who resigned after a security camera caught him and another man taking a student's bike.

Ober said Rao completed 18 hours of community service with the American Cancer Society, paid $70 for the cost of USF's investigation, $75 for victim impact and $50 to cover prosecution costs.  Those were the conditions of the Misdemeanor Intervention Program, which allows first-time offenders to avoid a criminal record.

Rao is "glad this is over," said his attorney, Stephen Romine.

"There should never have been criminal charges brought against him in the first place," Romine said. "He never had criminal intent in this case. I think that was pretty clear in the evidence."

On Feb. 9, a security camera recorded Rao and a man he described as his handyman removing the red mountain bike from a loading dock at the Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute. They later were seen loading the bike into a minivan.
Rao said he thought the bike was abandoned and that he wanted to loan it to his handyman.

Rao resigned his $384,000 contract with USF Health in exchange for a $50,000 settlement. He later changed his mind, but the school refused to rescind the resignation.

Rao now is chief executive officer with the Orlando-based Institute of Women's Health of North America, Romine said.
Timothy Boyd, the bike's owner, said he wasn't surprised by the state's decision. He said Rao tried to persuade him to back up his story.
"I've never spoken to him before. And then he lied to my face, and he tried to coerce me into lying to the police," Boyd said. "It's more than just a bike theft - it's a bunch of politics."

News Channel 8 reporter Jeff Patterson contributed to this report. Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698.

TOM BRENNAN

TBO.com, Tampa Tribune