Recent controversy over a credit union account opened to help the family of convicted Stanford University student Brock Turner got some in the industry questioning whether and how credit unions can refuse services to members, and it appears credit union boards play a big role in determining the answer.

The controversy centered around the Beavercreek, Ohio-based Wright-Patt Credit Union, which faced harsh public criticism a few weeks ago after Turner's father set up a legal support fund there. Turner, 20, was accused of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster on the Stanford campus. Earlier this month, he was sentenced to six months in jail plus three years of probation.

The sentence, which some said was too light, sparked an outcry against the judge in the case, Turner's parents and later Wright-Patt, which has $3.3 billion in assets and 321,000 members. Wright-Patt later posted a Facebook message that read in part: "Wright-Patt Credit Union is aware of the account in question that was established as a legal support fund by the father of an individual convicted of sexual assault in California. When opening a new account, we confirm the membership eligibility and qualifications of the account owner in adherence with our bylaws and applicable law. Beyond that, we respect the privacy of our members and their intended use of the account."