Ellis could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for Invista declined to comment on the court decision or Ellis’ employment with the company. On the audio recording from the hearing, Ellis said that he had received the biggest promotion of his career just prior to committing the theft. He had worked for the company for six years.
During a five-day period in September 2007, Ellis eight times loaded a tray with food and left the cafeteria without paying. He did not dispute the facts presented at the hearing. After cashiers at the cafeteria noticed his behavior, security employees installed a video camera that caught him in the act.
Mark Holden, senior vice president and general counsel for Koch, then confronted Ellis, who denied the theft until he viewed the video.
The same day, Ellis sent Holden an e-mail that said he was “embarrassed and disgusted” with himself. “I lied. I stole. I violated the Code of Conduct,” he wrote.
His e-mail continued: “I have had to tell my parents, who are here, my wife and my children what I did. I received no sympathy and the same question — why? I have no good answer.”
Holden directed Ellis to report his conduct to the state attorney disciplinary administrator.
Ellis argued at the hearing in March against a public censure. Although the court in In the Matter of Troy Ellis, No. 101,485, said it was “not impervious to the difficulties experienced by the respondent because of his conduct,” it found a public censure warranted.
“[W]e cannot ignore the fact that the respondent engaged in the criminal act of theft and upon discovery lied about his activities.”
