Former director of alumni relations pleads innocent to felony charges

Former University of Idaho associate director of alumni relations pleaded innocent Monday to three felony charges after allegedly spending over $2,700 in unauthorized purchases on a university card. 

Moscow resident Tim Helmke was charged with one count of misuse of public funds by a public employee and two counts of forgery, according to the state’s court portal. Helmke allegedly submitted false receipts for two purchases between 2019 and 2020. 

UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker was unable to comment on the ongoing litigation but said Helmke’s employment was terminated Oct. 30. 

According to the Idaho State Legislature, the maximum penalty for a public employee found guilty of misusing public money is a $10,000 fine, a 14-year prison sentence or both. Forgery is also punishable by a maximum of 14 years in prison. 

The court portal lists Katherine Hawkins of Lewiston as the lead attorney on Helmke’s case.

If found guilty, Helmke must pay restitution for the misused funds, in addition to other penalties imposed. He would also be disqualified from holding any position as a public employee if the job involves the “receipt, safekeeping or disbursement” of public money, section 18-5701 of the Idaho Code states. 

Helmke, the former president of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce board of directors, resigned March 30 to “focus on personal matters,” according to Mike O’Brien, vice-president of the board. 

O’Brien will serve as acting president until the chamber’s board elections in June. A new president will take over July 1, O’Brien stated. 

In addition to his work at the chamber, O’Brien is the general manager of Best Western Plus University Inn. The hotel’s trivia night is one of three main locations where Helmke allegedly used his UI purchase card to spend money, according to a probable cause affidavit. 

Helmke is scheduled for a status conference May 10 at the Latah County District Court with Judge John Judge.

Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermotweets