Acadiana's News Leader Greg Lafleur Charges Dropped

Former Southern University Athletic Director Greg Lafleur was cleared of all charges Tuesday stemming from a 2011 Houston prostitution sting.

Lafleur's attorney Jed Silverman says the jury deliberated for 34 minutes before making the acquittal and says that

"Southern University did not afford Mr. Lafleur the presumption of innocence before firing him."

Lafleur says that he will not be returning for future employment at the university and has already filed a civil lawsuit for damages after being fired.

Ex-Southern AD Files Suit

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Former Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur, who was fired three days after his April 3 arrest on a misdemeanor prostitution count in Houston, is suing the school for breach of contract.

LaFleur contends in a lawsuit that Southern fired him "before giving him written notice and an opportunity to refute the alleged cause" for his termination.

"The cause alleged by Southern . does not constitute just cause, good cause, reasonable cause, or other cause," the suit, filed against the Southern University Board of Supervisors, alleges.

LaFleur, 52, is seeking damages, including his base salary for the remainder of his contract, which he says was to expire June 30, 2013.

Southern System spokeswoman Katara Williams said Monday the university had not been served with the suit, had not seen it and could not comment.

The Advocate reports LaFleur's attorney, Scott Wilson, could not be reached for comment.

LaFleur, a former LSU tight end and native of Ville Platte, was attending the NCAA men's Final Four in Houston seeking potential candidates for the vacant Southern men's basketball coaching job when he was arrested during a prostitution sting.

He is accused of soliciting a person to engage in "sexual intercourse for hire," according to a criminal complaint.

Southern Chancellor Kofi Lomotey has said his decision to fire LaFleur was one that had to be made quickly for the overall stability of the school's athletic program.

LaFleur claims he received a termination letter April 8, two days after Southern announced in a news release that LeFleur had been fired.

"The contract expressly states that the written notice and refutation opportunity must take place 'prior to' termination," the suit says.

Southern women's basketball coach Sandy Pugh is serving as the school's interim athletic director.

LaFleur's suit was filed Thursday in Baton Rouge state court. It has been assigned to state District Judge Todd Hernandez.

Information from: The Advocate, http://www.2theadvocate.com

HOUSTON (AP) - Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur is free on bond after his arrest in Houston on a charge of soliciting a prostitute.

Police records show the 52-year-old former NFL tight end was arrested on a downtown Houston street about 8:30 p.m. Sunday and released Monday after posting $500 bond.

Court records showed no attorney for LeFleur, whose home telephone has been disconnected. University spokesman Edward Pratt says Southern officials will investigate, then "will determine what action or actions are necessary." He declined further comment.

LaFleur has been Southern's athletic director for six years. The Ville Platte, La., native and former LSU star tight end and receiver played with the Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts in the NFL.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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