Five people were arrested Tuesday for their alleged involvement in stealing almost $23,000 from the University -- charges that include receiving reimbursements for false travel expenses during a five-year period.

The arrests come about a month after D. Lewis Mothersbaugh, former assistant vice president for business services, was sentenced for his involvement.

Business Services employees Gale Bowman, William Meyer, Ruth Ann Witmer and former Director of Business Services Gregory Ingram were charged with "theft by unlawful taking," for allegedly falsifying 62 travel vouchers.

Employee Frances Brown was charged with criminal conspiracy. According to court records, Brown said during interviews last summer that she had prepared inaccurate travel vouchers for several people and herself and turned the money over to Mothersbaugh.

The charges resulted from a two month investigation by University Police Services, Internal Auditing and the independent auditor Deloitte & Touche. The probe began in September after a former employee's attorney informed officials of a problem. Police submitted their report in November to Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar.

No one has pleaded guilty and the University does not plan to take any further action or fire the employees, said Bill Mahon, director of public information.

"From the University's point of view, we've already investigated it internally and resolved the cases internally," he said. "The money that was determined to be missing was returned to the University."

Normal University procedures allow employees to be reimbursed for expenses incurred on University business trips, Mahon said.

An employee can charge a hotel bill or airplane ticket and give the University a receipt, which will be repaid. Employees who drive their own cars can be reimbursed for a certain amount of money per mile. Mahon was not sure of the current rate.

Meal expenses are also covered at a rate that depends on the cost of living in an area visited.

Court records reveal several incidents in which these employees allegedly asked the University for reimbursement expenses that were already paid for by other parties.

Ingram, who resigned Nov. 19 as a result of the investigation, was charged with falsifying seven travel vouchers, amounting to $1,123.05. Court records indicate Ingram was reimbursed for personal trips as well as meals which conferences or private companies paid for.

The records also show that Bowman falsified 24 travel vouchers between 1988 and 1993 and received $2,533.33. On a 1988 trip to Dallas, Bowman attended an IBM seminar where all meals were provided for by the company and Bowman allegedly was reimbursed by the University for $97.50.

Meyer allegedly received $3,024.06 from 23 travel vouchers. According to records, he allegedly took nine non-University related trips to Abington, Pa., and was reimbursed for 440 private miles for each trip, totaling $984.20.

Preliminary hearings for Ingram, Meyer and Brown will be held March 2. Witmer waived her hearing and Bowman and his attorney have not decided whether to waive his hearing.

Amos Goodall, Bowman's attorney, said the preliminary hearing allows defendants to see what kind of evidence the other side has against them. But he said that didn't apply to this case.

"I have a good deal of evidence about this case," Goodall said.

Witmer's attorney, Robert Mitinger, said he asked for her to be placed on probation instead of going through a hearing because she has no prior record. The request does not mean she pleads innocent or guilty to the charges that she was reimbursed for eight travel vouchers at $1,004.58.

"At the end of a long period of probation and a fine, you get off probation," Mitinger said.

Mothersbaugh was sentenced last month for falsifying 32 travel expense accounts, receiving $3,500 for film-processing silver taken from University printing services, $3,085 for using printing services for personal work and $473.90 for selling boxes owned by the office.

He received a $1,000 fine and will have to perform 200 hours of community service and serve two years of probation.