An ASU plant biology professor was indicted Thursday on 11 felony counts relating to the manufacture, possession and sale of illegal drugs, as well as money laundering and criminal racketeering.
Ralph Backhaus was arrested in early October in connection with an Ecstasy ring, in which he allegedly allowed his teaching assistant, Clayton Prepsky, to use University materials and laboratories to manufacture the illegal drug, Ecstasy.
Prepsky was listed as a plant biology junior, according to the office of the registrar. However, Prepsky may no longer be attending ASU now, University spokesman Keith Jennings said.
ASU placed Backhaus on paid administrative leave following his arrest.
Backhaus, who is tenured, has been a professor of plant biology since 1988 but has been employed by ASU since 1977.
The school must follow Arizona Board of Regents procedures before taking action against tenured professors. He remains on paid leave indefinitely, Jennings said.
Backhaus appeared in court on Thursday for an initial hearing and remains in custody on an $88,000 bond.
The University has ordered an audit of all Backhaus' accounts and a review of procedures and operations of the University Chemical Stores.
For full story, please see Monday's edition of the State Press.
