ENMU rodeo coach's attorney: 'No embezzlement'

Embezzlement allegations against the Eastern New Mexico University rodeo coach were not heard by a grand jury on Friday as had been scheduled.

Albert Flinn, 83, was charged last month with two counts of embezzlement (under $20,000) and one count of cruelty to animals.

Prosecutor Quentin Ray and Flinn’s attorney, Tye Harmon of Clovis, both said they are trying to reach an agreement prior to the criminal case going forward.

“We canceled the grand jury … Depends on what information Tye has on how we move forward,” Ray stated in a text message to The News on Thursday.

Harmon said “more than 100 letters” had been received by his office in support of the longtime coach who also rodeoed at ENMU as a student in the 1960s.

He also said his client is innocent.

“We have receipts and documents to show there was no embezzlement,” Harmon told The News.

Harmon and Ray said they plan to meet this week.

Most of the embezzlement allegations against Flinn involve university property found on Flinn’s personal property. Flinn maintained in court records that he was storing university property in some cases because the university did not have space. Other ENMU property in his possession was going to be thrown away, Flinn stated in the court record.

ENMU spokesperson John Houser on Thursday said Flinn remains on administrative leave. University officials have declined further comment.

Flinn declined comment, but his brother, Joe Flinn, told The News, “Albert has done nothing but good for that school since he enrolled as a freshman the fall of 1964. ... He wouldn’t steal a dollar if he needed to buy food for a meal.”

Albert Flinn faces up to seven years in prison and a $16,000 fine if convicted on all charges, Ray said.