한인 대학교수가 한 여학생의 아파트에 무단침입한 혐의로 체포된 후 학교로부터 해고됐다.

텍사스주 칼리지 스테이션 경찰국에 따르면 텍사스 A&M 대학 약대 조제학과 부교수로 근무해온 장종화(51·사진)씨는 지난 3월 한 여학생의 아파트 열쇠를 복제한 후 해당 학생이 봄방학 기간 아파트를 떠나 있는 동안 키를 사용해 이 학생의 아파트에 침입했다.

피해자는 다른 학생과 함께 지난 3월5일 장씨의 오피스를 방문했고, 볼일이 있어 잠시 자리를 비운 사이 장씨는 피해자의 핸드백에서 열쇠를 훔쳤다. 당일 장씨는 피해자의 아파트로 가서 열쇠로 문을 연 뒤 다시 잠갔고, 이후 피해자에게 연락을 취해 주차장에서 열쇠를 발견했다고 말한 후 오리지널 열쇠를 돌려줬다.

장씨는 사흘 뒤인 3월8일 피해자의 아파트를 다시 찾았고, 복제한 열쇠로 문을 열고 안으로 들어갔다 밖으로 나와 문을 잠그고 아파트를 떠났다. 결국 장씨는 지난 11일 경찰에 체포돼 8000달러의 보석금을 내고 석방됐으며 21일 대학으로부터 해고 통보를 받았다.

Texas A&M University says it has terminated an associate professor accused of breaking into a student’s apartment earlier this year.

Jong Wha Chang was an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Science at the College of Pharmacy.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by College Station police, in March Chang stole a student’s key, made a copy of it, and broke into her apartment while she was away for Spring Break.

The report says the victim and another student were in Chang’s office on March 5 and briefly walked away to heat their lunch in another room.

While they were gone, police say the 51-year-old went through the student’s tote and stole the key to her apartment.

Later in that same afternoon, police say Chang was seen on surveillance camera going to the student’s apartment, unlocking the door, locking it back, and then leaving.

Chang then texted the student and said he found her key in the parking lot near her car and returned it, said police.

Three days later, Chang is seen on camera again going to the student’s apartment on Harvey Mitchell Parkway, unlocking the door, and entering. He then exited the apartment and locked it before leaving the property.

In their report, police say they have reason to believe Chang made a copy of the student’s key and then returned her original key before the burglary.

The arrest report does not say if anything was taken from inside the apartment but it did say the victim was away at the time on vacation.