Dr. William J. Frawley, posing in 2006 while visiting the UMW campus, has been put on paid leave by the college. FILE/MIKE MORONES/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Next to a a reflection of The University of Mary Washington Jepson Alumni Center, Rector Bill Poole answers questions from the press concerning President William Frawley's recent charges of driving under the influence. FILE/MIKE MORONES/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

UMW Vice President Richard Hurley, shown yesterday at the board meeting, will assume the duties of president. FILE/MIKE MORONES/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Frawley facing another charge, placed on paid leave by the university

BY JEFF BRANSCOME and BILL FREEHLING

Date published: 4/13/2007

University of Mary Washington President William Frawley was placed on paid leave yesterday in the wake of consecutive drunken-driving charges against him.

The Free Lance-Star learned yesterday that Frawley, 53, had been charged with driving under the influence in Fairfax County on Tuesday, the day before being arrested in Fredericksburg on charges of drunken driving and refusing a breathalyzer test.

All are misdemeanors. He was alone in the car in both incidents, officials said.

UMW Rector Bill Poole said Frawley was in Mary Washington Hospital's intensive care unit yesterday afternoon. He said at a news conference that he didn't know the details of Frawley's injuries.

"The tragedy of all this is he's such a brilliant man and so capable," Poole told The Free Lance-Star.

The UMW board of visitors met privately in a special session for several hours yesterday and voted to put Frawley, who took over as president in July, on paid leave. Officials emphasized that the action was not a suspension, but could not explain the difference.

UMW officials said they had not spoken to Frawley since his arrest.

"We need to let him clarify his own mind," UMW spokeswoman Ranny Corbin said.

Rick Hurley, UMW's vice president for administration and finance, will perform the president's tasks in the meantime.

Fairfax County police spokeswoman Camille Neville said yesterday that there is an outstanding warrant for Frawley in Fairfax on a DUI charge.

The charge stems from a single-vehicle accident that occurred at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday on Georgetown Pike in Fairfax County near the Great Falls National Park, Neville said. She said a 2006 Toyota Avalon driven by Frawley ran off the road and overturned.

Poole said Frawley totaled the car while "rushing" to a conference at a Fairfax school his son attends.

The UMW Foundation owns the Avalon, Poole said. Frawley was driving his own car before he was arrested in Fredericksburg, Poole said.

Fairfax police spokeswoman Neville said officers at the scene "had probable cause" to believe Frawley was intoxicated. Neville wouldn't say what constituted the probable cause.

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Date published: 4/13/2007