The three Mississippi State University students accused in the recent algebra cheating scandal have been suspended and face legal proceedings in Oktibbeha County Justice Court . Students Cameron Farmer, Corey Barnes and Ryan Hutchinson pleaded guilty to the university’s charges of receiving stolen property.
All three received a failing grade in the algebra course, and two of the three men were suspended for one semester. They will be eligible to re-enroll in the fall of 2002.
One of the three, also pleaded guilty to the charge of distributing the test to other class members. That student, whose identity is not known, was suspended for a full year and will not be eligible for readmission until spring of 2003.
Any of the three who re-enroll at MSU, will be considered on probation until graduation.
Because of his position and the MSU privacy policy concerning student judicial proceedings, Dean of Students Mike White was unable to comment on the decision.
“I can’t think of anything that needs to be said that hasn’t been said at this point,” White said.
Aside from the MSU charges, the three former students and a fourth man, Paul Ammerman, who was accused of theft of intellectual property, will face charges in Oktibbeha County Justice Court.
According to Justice Court Clerk Von Graham, Ammerman and Barnes received a continuance on their initial Jan. 15 hearing and may go to trial some time in April. Barnes faces the lesser charge of receipt of stolen property,
“Their attorney is a member of the Mississippi Legislature.” Graham said. “He, of course, requested a continuance until after the Legislature is out of session, which is anticipated to be some time in April.”
Farmer and Hutchinson, who both face charges of receipt of stolen property, are set to go to trial in March.
The Reflector will keep track of this story as events continue to unfold.