Barring court order, university foundation to keep Ferrell scholarship money

The charges against former Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell won't affect a Southeast Missouri State University scholarship in his name unless a court gets involved.

University foundation executive director Wayne Smith said Friday the trial proceedings will not affect the scholarship unless a court tells the foundation to give up the money.

Ferrell was indicted by a Scott County grand jury Feb. 23 for allegedly stealing an unspecified amount from the "William Ferrell DARE and Crime Prevention Fund." An investigation into the fund was initiated by a 2006 state audit that questioned how $18,200 was taken out of the fund between Jan. 1, 2004, and Feb. 18, 2005. Ferrell claimed at the time that the money didn't belong to the county, but to him.

Part of the money, $10,000, went to endow a scholarship at Southeast in Ferrell's name that provides an award of $500 each year to a Scott County student studying criminal justice or prelaw. Smith said the first scholarship will be awarded for the 2007-2008 school year.