Former WKU professor pleads guilty to fraud

A Bowling Green man has pleaded guilty to defrauding Western Kentucky University, where he was formerly a professor.

According to the plea agreement, former engineering professor Matthew Dettman devised a scheme to defraud the university by diverting concrete and soil test payments from the engineering department for his own personal use. 

The diverted payments, furthered by interstate wire transfers, resulted in a loss of $236,000 to WKU.

Dettman faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a combined maximum fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release.

As part of the plea agreement, Dettman will be required to pay $236,000 in restitution to WKU.