The Associated Press
HOUSTON - Enron Corp.'s former top accountant pleaded not guilty Thursday to conspiracy and fraud in an indictment that accused him of being "a principal architect" of schemes to mislead investors in the scandal-ridden company.
The charges against Richard Causey, 44, came just a week after Enron's former chief financial officer, Andrew Fastow, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges.
The indictment noted that - like Fastow - Causey reported directly to the chairman and chief executive. It did not name former Enron chairman Kenneth Lay or former CEO Jeffrey Skilling, neither of whom has been charged.
He was released on $1 million bond.
"Rick Causey is a decent, honorable and innocent man," said attorney Mark Hulkower. "He has done nothing, absolutely nothing, wrong."
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