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Archive for Saturday, September 30, 2000

Deputy director won’t discuss personnel matter

The Associated Press

September 30, 2000

Topeka — A high-ranking Kansas Lottery official remains on paid leave while a personnel matter is under review, the agency's deputy director confirmed.

The deputy director, Ed Van Petten, would not discuss what the matter involves.

The official on paid administrative leave is Kevin Scott, the lottery's director of administration. He is not coming to work but is drawing his salary, which is $62,800, according to personnel records.

Scott's wife, Sherri, was an office assistant at the lottery but has been transferred to another agency, Van Petten said.

"I really can't address it right now," Van Petten told re-porters. "It's a pending personnel issue."

There was no answer at the Scotts' home in Topeka. They did not return telephone messages left by The Associated Press.

The lottery placed Kevin Scott on administrative leave Sept. 20. The agency's action was announced during a court hearing by the attorney for Richard Lee Knowlton.

Knowlton is accused of altering tickets and computer records to steal nearly $63,000 from the agency. He faces 268 theft, computer crime and official misconduct charges in Shawnee County District Court.

Knowlton, of Topeka, was the lottery's information resource manager from 1992 until his resignation in March. Kevin Scott was his boss at the lottery.

Knowlton acknowledges altering 12 tickets and cashing 11 of them but says he was conducting his own investigation of problems at the lottery and wanted to show Kevin Scott and others the flaws in its security system.

Van Petten told reporters, "I assure (you) there is no indication whatsoever of any involvement by Kevin Scott in the criminal investigation."

But when reporters asked Van Petten whether he meant Kevin Scott's case was not connected in any way with Knowlton's case, the deputy director hedged in his answer.

"I don't think I answered that question because it's a personnel issue," Van Petten said.

Pressed further, he said, "I think it would be a lot safer for all of us if we wait until the matter is resolved and we can at least address it somewhat. It's a personnel matter, definitely."

Knowlton has said that in February, Kevin Scott caused the agency's automatic withdrawal system to pull almost $1 million from ticket retailers' bank accounts as much as 90 days before the transactions were due.