ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512030011
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE to file charges against Antoine Hobeika, who was accused of improperly depositing money from the sale of software into his personal bank account.
Almost a year after state police completed an investigation into whether Virginia Tech professor and former "smart'' road point man Antoine Hobeika embezzled public funds, no decision has been made on filing charges.
The case, which concerns money from the sale of software, sits in the attorney general's office.
Hobeika's attorney, Roberts Moore of Roanoke, says his client's integrity is no longer at issue because the university has dropped its accusations that Hobeika improperly deposited money from the sale of the software into his personal bank account.
"This accusation has been dropped and was proven false," a news release from Moore's office said.
University spokesman Larry Hincker said Friday that it was not up to the university to bring charges. "It's not our place," he said.
Tech officials last year said they were concentrating more on questions of "scholarly conduct," while state police focused on any possible crime.
Len Peters, vice provost for research and one of Hobeika's former bosses, said the question within the university right now is not guilt, but whether Tech's policies regarding intellectual property rights should be changed so "we don't put people in awkward positions."
"There are currently discussions within the university at this time to try and look at what the issues were and clarify some points."
Mark Miner, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, said his department does not discuss specific cases. He would not say whether the case was still active, but Moore confirmed it was still in the attorney general's office.
Hobeika, who has worked at Tech for 22 years, was director of the Center for Transportation Research for six years until he stepped down in October 1994 during the investigation.
The tenured civil engineering professor, who is still teaching and conducting transportation research at Tech, permanently resigned as director in December 1994.
The software, which was sold to the Hong Kong Port Authority, was developed at the center. In October 1994, state police discovered a $2,500 check made out to Hobeika from the port authority during a search of his bank accounts.
Moore said the university had no right to the software or the money because it was Hobeika's personal property.
"Since October 1994, Dr. Hobeika has fully cooperated with the university administration in order to resolve any concerns they may have regarding his six years as director of the 7-year-old transportation center," the statement said.
"Realizing that the [Intelligent Vehicle/Highway Systems] research is important to Virginia Tech and the economic growth of Southwest Virginia, Dr. Hobeika wants to continue his research efforts in bringing national and international recognition to Virginia Tech in this field."
The Center for Transportation Research, founded in 1988, plays a major role in the development of intelligent transportation systems, technology that is intended to be tested on the proposed smart highway. In addition to providing a link between Blacksburg and Roanoke, the first two-mile stretch of the smart road is supposed to be a test bed for such research.
Ray Pethtel, Tech's transportation fellow, has been interim director of the center since Hobeika resigned. But Pethtel, state transportation commissioner from 1986 to 1994, has said all along he does not want to be the permanent director.
"I'm hopeful that someone will be named and be available by the first part of the year, and I can get back to the things I do best," Pethtel said, ``although I do intend to stay with the center for a portion of my time.''
Peters, who is involved in the search, said there is a list of two to four finalists. If negotiations proceed well, Peters added, there should be a new director within a few weeks. The finalists have been coming in for interviews, and the university is assessing their availability.
Although the fate of the smart road is unclear, Peters said the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors' actions during the past month will not affect the search. The board voted against taking 140 acres of land the Virginia Department of Transportation needs to build the smart road out of a protected agricultural and forestal zone in late November but rescinded the vote a week later for further study.
"I do not believe the current discussions on the smart road will affect our recruitment," Peters said. "There are many opportunities in transportation research and in intelligent transportation."
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