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Opening statements began Tuesday in the trial of a former TSU employee accused of being part of a scheme to mis-spend school money.

Former Chief Financial Officer Quentin Wiggins allegedly helped former university President Priscilla Slade spend hundreds of thousands of school dollars on her home by writing checks, moving money and approving funds.

“Just because you hear one side of the coin, or one side of the story, allow us to tell our side of the story before you rush to judgment,” Defense Attorney L. Mickele Daniels said.

While Wiggins’ attorney told jurors his client was only in charge of paying the bills at TSU, Prosecutor Donna Good told a very different story.

She said between 1999-2007, Wiggins tripled his salary under Slade, and that he had his own expense account that included golfing at the Houstonian.

Good portrayed Wiggins as Slade’s partner in crime, approving a $138,000 landscaping project for her home, a $62,000 security system and $46,000 in fine furniture.

Paula Frederick, Wiggins’ former boss, was the prosecution’s first witness.

Frederick said that when it became apparent that Slade wanted Wiggins in her position, she resigned, only to be immediately escorted by the campus police chief off of TSU property. She said it was humiliating.

Slade, who faces her own trial in August, has been subpoenaed by the defense, though it is unclear if she will share her story in this trial or plead the Fifth.

If convicted, Wiggins could face anywhere from five to 99 years in prison.

His trial is expected to last three to four weeks. There were reportedly around 50 people on the witness list, including Slade.