Iowa State president Leath will not be charged over plane use
AMES, Ia. - Iowa State University President Steven Leath will not be charged over allegations that he used school airplanes for personal benefit.
The Division of Criminal Investigation said Wednesday that Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds declined to charge Leath on Feb. 3 after determining "there was no probable cause to substantiate a violation of Iowa law."
The six-week investigation focused on whether Leath violated a law barring the use of state assets for any private purpose or personal gain. A DCI summary says agents interviewed "many people" and analyzed records.
It began after a Board of Regents audit in December found Leath used university planes for medical appointments in Minnesota, personal flight lessons and trips to his North Carolina home. He's now reimbursed the university for those flights.
Earlier on Wednesday, regents took no action against Leath after an audit found he may have violated policy by storing and transporting guns without written approval.
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According to the audit, the university contends two retired senior administrators and the former university police director had created documentation of a waiver that allowed for the transport of guns. However, that documentation could not be located, the audit shows.
Leath believed verbal approval he received from the Office of University Council and the Department of Public Safety to store guns at the university president’s on-campus residence applied to transport on the planes as well, the audit shows.
“We now realize the university policy is ambiguous and requires clarification with regard to transportation of firearms,” the university’s response in the audit shows.
The university in January obtained the proper written waiver and a follow-up audit will later this year review whether proper storage and transportation procedures are being followed.
Register reporter Jason Clayworth contributed to this article.
