The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation has initiated an investigation of former Cape Fear Community College president Ted Spring, SBI spokesman Shannon O’Toole confirmed Tuesday.

The investigation, requested earlier this month by the office of the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys, follows the July 28 publication of a report by the N.C. Office of the State Auditor. Staffers from that office conducted a review of what college trustees alleged were examples of financial and managerial misconduct by the former president.

Spring resigned from his position in January but later asked to be reinstated and said trustees had forced him to resign. He has since sued the trustees for violation of due process and has asked for damages and reinstatement.

The state auditor’s report, however, found that Spring gave raises and promotions without board approval, used college vending funds for personal expenditures and was reimbursed by the college for mileage at amounts exceeding his actual out-of-pocket expenditures.

When the auditor’s report was published, Tammy Smith, the White Collar Crime Resource prosecutor for the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys, said that she was "currently working with the SBI to review the audit report and determine the next best steps."

One of those steps, Smith confirmed Tuesday morning, has been to request an SBI investigation of Spring, based on the audit findings. O’Toole said Tuesday afternoon that the investigation is underway, but he had no details at this point.

“Based on the information provided to the SBI, such as the auditor’s report or other financial-related information, the SBI will conduct a comprehensive overview “ of the CFCC matter, he said.