Eber Devine, accused of sexually harassing a woman in Van Pelt Library, has had many previous encounters with the law throughout his lifetime, including various instances at Penn.
Devine, 38, of the 1700 block of North Lambert Street, is facing eight charges relating to his alleged sexual harassment of Conshohocken resident Aleshia Endy in a third-floor study room of Van Pelt Library July 3.
Devine's connection with Penn began in the spring semester of 1999, when he was a bachelor's of arts degree candidate in the College of General Studies.
He took no further classes at the University, but on the evening of March 15, 2000, he was arrested by Penn police officers while he was walking down Spruce Street.
Though no charges were filed from the incident, Devine sued Penn and two Penn police officers in 2002, alleging that he was brought to the police station and mistreated.
He claimed that the officers slammed his head into a wall and that one kneed him in the head.
The case was thrown out in 2004, and Penn has consistently maintained that its officers acted properly and respected Devine's constitutional rights.
However, that wasn't the last of Devine's involvement with the University.
Penn is currently suing him and is seeking to recover around $15,000 in tuition, late fees and charges dating back from the time Devine was a student.
Though the case was filed in March 2004, it is still ongoing. Devine has failed to make court appearances in this matter.
The case has been decided against Devine because he has failed to appear, and the University has attempted to garnish the money from his paycheck.
Scott Watson, the outside lawyer who is litigating the case for Penn, didn't return requests for comment.
However, Devine's legal troubles began long before he became associated with the University.
He has been found guilty of or pled guilty to numerous charges ranging from theft to forgery to making terroristic threats.
However, because CGS doesn't require disclosure of past criminal history on its application for admission, Penn couldn't have known this.
Leo Charney of the Provost's Office, which is heading efforts to come up with a comprehensive and uniform criminal background check policy in the wake of a series of criminal incidents involving faculty and staff members, said that discussions among various departments are "moving productively forward as envisioned last year."
Devine also faces two charges against him from last year in two different cases. In both suits, bench warrants were issued, indicating Devine had failed to make court appearances in connection with those trials.
Devine, who is in custody, couldn't be reached for comment.
He is being represented in his case involving Endy by the Philadelphia Public Defender, but has yet to be assigned a specific lawyer who could comment for this article.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.