About a year after arrest, Kenneth Kavajecz’s court case has yet to significantly move forward

About a year after former Martin J. Whitman School of Management Dean Kenneth Kavajecz was arrested on charges related to prostitution, his court case has yet to significantly move forward.

Kavajecz is scheduled to appear in Salina Town Court on Oct. 19, a court clerk said. His court appearance has been adjourned nine times since last September.

Louis Mannara, Kavajecz’s attorney, declined to say if he expects more adjournments. Mannara said he is still discussing the case with Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick.

“There really isn’t anything to say,” said Mannara, a Cicero-based criminal defense attorney. Fitzpatrick did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this article.

Kavajecz has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge that he patronized a prostitute. He was arrested after authorities said he agreed to pay $80 to an undercover police officer, who was posing as a prostitute at a Candlewood Suites near the Syracuse Hancock International Airport. The arrest was part of a larger prostitution sting.

The sting was led by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police. Seven other people were arrested in the sting.

Kavajecz’s official charge, patronizing a person for prostitution in the third degree, is punishable by up to one year in jail. Salina Judge Paul Carey will try the case.

It remains unclear whether Kavajecz is still on the SU payroll or receiving benefits. Kevin Quinn, the university’s vice president for public affairs, in an email said he could not comment on past or current personnel matters.

Kavajecz made $496,448, according to the university’s 990 form for the 2014-15 fiscal year. Kavajecz was not listed on the university’s 990 form for the 2015-16 academic year.

The Whitman dean position was filled in May. Gene Anderson, a former University of Miami School of Business Administration professor, was appointed to Kavajecz’s former role.