RIC professor accused of taking $60k from school

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: rturco@abc6.com

The head of Rhode Island College’s theatre department is accused of swindling the college out of more than $60,000.

James Taylor, 46, is charged with obtaining money under false pretenses. The professor would go to the accounting department to request money for the theatre program and ask that the checks be made payable to various businesses, but they went to his personal bank account instead, 38 times over three years, according to State Police.

Taylor’s students are still wrapping their heads around it all. "You wouldn’t expect that from him, being such a leader in this community at RIC," said senior Mathieu Florio, a criminal justice major who took Taylor’s acting class for non-Theatre majors.

Mary Arnold, a musical theatre major, had a similar reaction: "I never thought he would be that kind of person." She describes the theatre department as a family, which is now “in a funk” with the loss of Taylor. He is on paid administrative leave during the State Police investigation.

We tried to speak with Taylor, but there was no answer at his apartment.

"I hope it goes as a sign that you really can’t get away with this stuff at RIC,” said Arnold. “I hope the theatre department will flourish and not try to boggle down just because this happened."

Taylor was arraigned and released on $10,000 personal recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court January 12 for a pre-arraignment conference. He is on paid administrative leave from the school.

Taylor faces up to ten years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

© WLNE-TV 2016