A former university employee who allegedly stole more than $151,000 from Penn State was arrested last week.

Penn State previously employed James Graves, 43, of Bellefonte, as the manager of Environmental Systems in the Office of Physical Plant (OPP).

Penn State University Police said Graves created a personal company called Data Systems Solutions, from which he submitted fake invoices to be paid by Penn State.

Because Graves was in charge of ordering materials and equipment for Environmental Systems, he paid the fake invoices from Data Systems Solutions -- in effect paying himself.

He submitted 80 invoices over the course of about two years, according to a university police press release.

Graves used his Penn State Visa purchasing card to pay the invoices, which requested payment for electrical switches that Penn State never received, according to the press release.

The thefts occurred from Aug. 2, 2003, to Sep. 3 of last year. University police obtained a search warrant on Feb. 26, 2006, and recovered more than $7,400 worth of electronic and computer equipment from Graves' home that he had allegedly stolen from OPP, according to the press release.

University police declined to give out any further information about the investigation and the arrest. University police officer Don Hazel said more information would be available after Graves appears in court.

Graves is charged with 80 counts of theft by deception, 80 counts of receiving stolen property for the fake invoices, one count of theft by unlawful taking and one count of receiving stolen property for the electronic and computer equipment.

He was charged and released on $150,000 unsecured bail, meaning he must pay only if he doesn't show up for his court dates.

Graves is due on March 22 at Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte for his preliminary hearing.