Julius Nyang’oro intends to plead not guilty to obtaining property under false pretenses — a charge the former chairman of the recently renamed Department of African and Afro-American Studies was indicted with Monday.
Nyang’oro made his first appearance in court Tuesday after being indicted by a grand jury for obtaining $12,000 under false pretenses, a class H felony. He was paid the $12,000 to teach AFAM 280, a face-to-face lecture course during the summer of 2011. The class never met.
Nyang’oro’s attorney Bill Thomas said the former professor will plead not guilty.
“We think this is an unfortunate charge and we intend to fight this,” Thomas said following the first appearance.
Orange County District Court Judge Jay Brian ordered Nyang’oro to appear in superior court again Dec. 17.
