DMACC CHIEF TO STAY ON PAYROLL

David England will remain on the payroll at Des Moines Area Community
College while he faces marijuana trafficking charges related to a
search of his family's Johnston home.

The school's board of trustees voted Friday to continue paying
England's $183,750 salary as college president, a $1,500-a-month
housing allowance, $1,000 in miscellaneous expenses, and lease
payments on his 2002 sport utility vehicle.

The trustees' decision came as agents widened their investigation
beyond England and his family, all of whom face drug-related charges.
Investigators seized computers late Thursday from England's office and
the Des Moines Art Center, where his wife, Donna, is on paid leave as
an administrator.

"This is not the end of the story," said Bill Vaughn, Polk County
chief sheriff's deputy. "We've had a lot of people who have come
forward who are saying things that are prompting us to look into other
areas and talk to other people. The investigation is far from over."

He declined to discuss specifics about the investigation.

David England's lawyer, William Kutmus, downplayed the significance of
the seized computers.

"I'm glad they got the computers. I can guarantee there's nothing on
those computers," he said. "They may prove his innocence."

All of the Englands were back at home Friday. Each awaits a formal
arraignment. David and Donna England each face more than 10 years in
prison if convicted of drug trafficking, conspiracy, possession of
paraphernalia and violation of the state drug tax stamp law.

Their 22-year-old daughter, Jessica, also is charged with trafficking
marijuana, and their 16-year-old son, David Charles, is charged with
possession.

The DMACC trustees agreed to keep England on the payroll despite some
resistance over his benefits.

"My problem is that fringe benefits are, in my opinion, predicated on
Mr. England's doing certain things," trustee Harold Belken said during
the 30-minute meeting called to discuss the scandal.

"We have to be careful to preserve due process and a person's
presumption of innocence," said trustee chairman Joe Pugel, who
nonetheless called for"swift and firm action" to"see that the alleged
allegations haven't permeated our college setting."

The trustees of the two-year school announced that they will launch an
internal investigation into the allegations against England, news of
which surprised students, baffled school officials and rocked friends
of the family.

"It's a complete shock," said Judy Anderson of the Greater Irving-Las
Colinas Chamber of Commerce in Texas, of which England had been board
chairman while president of North Lake College before coming to Des
Moines in 2001.

"He is very, very nice. He was very focused on education, and a
forward thinker," Anderson said.

Drug agents swooped down Wednesday on the Englands' $407,000 home in
the Eagle Ridge Estates subdivision. They said they found England
alone, smoking marijuana.

A search turned up 21/2 pounds of suspected marijuana that they say
had been packaged for sale, 72 young marijuana plants, and equipment
for growing the drug. Each of the seedlings found, agents said, could
produce a pound of marijuana - about $6,000 to $7,000 per plant. The
packaged marijuana carries a street value of $20,000, authorities said.

One agent of the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force said the marijuana was
"in everyone's room."

A 17-year-old classmate of "Charlie" England at Johnston High School
said, "People think one of his friends turned him in."

The elder David England was arrested Wednesday and spent the night in
jail. He posted bond and was released Thursday. Donna and Jessica
England surrendered to authorities Thursday and spent the night behind
bars. They were released without being required to post bond.

When reached at home Friday, David England offered only a brief
statement: "I wish I could comment, but I'm under instructions from my
lawyer not to say anything. I need to follow his advice right now."

A check of criminal records in Texas showed England was convicted
there of a felony marijuana charge in 1971 while he was a 19-year-old
college student.

DMACC chairman Pugel said Friday that he knew nothing about the 1971
arrest. A spokesman for Ahlers & Cooney, a Des Moines legal firm hired
to find a new president after longtime school leader Joseph Borgen
retired in 2001, would not confirm a background check was done.

"In the context of the fact that he was an 18- to 19-year-old at the
time, I'm not sure it would have had any bearing" on the decision to
hire England, Pugel said. "Can I say it wasn't part of the background
check? I don't know."