By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – A former deputy director at the Alabama Fire College agreed on Wednesday to plead guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges. He's the fifth person at the fire college in Tuscaloosa to be charged in the ongoing probe of corruption in the state's post-secondary system. The three-count plea agreement was reached with Robert Nix, who retired as deputy director in 1996. Nix took a post at Shelton State Community College and served on the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission from 2001 to 2005. He's also a former board member and treasurer of the Fire College Foundation. U-S Attorney Alice Martin and Attorney General Troy King said that Nix admitted to using more than 70-thousand dollars of foundation funds for home improvements such as a gazebo-covered Jacuzzi and various purchases including a large screen T-V and two Harley Davidson motorcycles. The 67-year-old faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine for the first two counts and he must repay $328,000. He's also agreed to cooperate with investigators and plead guilty to a state felony ethics charge.