An SMU alumnus who was recently appointed head of the Texas Commission on the Arts was arrested for trespassing at SMU, after the university had warned him to stay off campus due to complaints from several students.  
 

Lee William “Bill” McNutt III was arrested on Feb. 15 and was taken to Lew Sterrett Justice Center by SMU police for violating a criminal trespass warning.
 

SMU spokesman Kent Best, released a statement from the university, which said SMU issued a warning to McNutt in November 2008 “directing him not to visit campus for any reason.”
 

“This action was based on SMU’s receipt of multiple student complaints against Mr. McNutt alleging behavior that violates university policy, such as offering alcohol to minors,” SMU said in the statement. “SMU officials received information that Mr. McNutt had returned to campus in violation of the criminal trespass warning, and he was arrested by SMU Police.”
 

In an e-mail, Best also said “no other information will be released.”
 

According to SMU police department crime logs the arrest took place at 5:51 p.m. at the Paul Loyd All Sports Center.
 

Kimberlee Leach, public information officer for the Dallas County Sheriff Department, said McNutt was booked at 7:30 p.m. and was released at 11:24 p.m. on $500 bond.
 

In December 2009, Gov. Rick Perry named McNutt chair of the Texas Commission on the Arts. Gary Gibbs, executive director of the commission told the Associated Press McNutt had resigned from his post the day before.
 

McNutt’s biography on the Commission on the Arts Web site, which has been now been taken down, lists him as serving on the White House staff for both President Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.   
 

His biography in an announcement in the Corsicana Sun Daily says McNutt attended SMU on a football scholarship. According to Mindy Rowland of SMU Alumni  Giving and Relations, McNutt earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SMU in 1977 and a masters in liberal arts  in 1984.
 

After graduating, she said he served as the founding president of the SMU Young Alumni Association.
 

Besides YAA, McNutt founded International Direct Marketing Consultants Inc. and co-found Reef Equity Investments, LP, both in Dallas. He currently owns part of Transition Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Dallas.
 

McNutt lives in University Park with his family and serves as a deacon at Highland Park Presbyterian Church.