Le Roy FD treasurer who stole from department given short jail term, probation
In most embezzlement cases, said Judge Robert C. Noonan during the sentencing of Dennis Snow, the victim is "out for blood."
That wasn't the case with Snow, who was accused of stealing at least $16,000 from the Le Roy Fire Department. In this case, some members of the department sent in letters asking for some degree of leniency with Snow, even those who thought Snow should spend some time in jail.
Even Det. John Condidorio, whom Noonan characterized as "strong willed," wrote a letter in support of Snow.
However, an element of sentencing, said Noonan, is that a sentence should not "cause the public to lose confidence in the justice system."
"People ask why a woman can steal a scarf from Walmart and go to jail but a person who steals tens of thousands of dollars doesn't," Noonan said.
Those in the judicial system understand all the factors that go into sentencing an individual, but that doesn't satisfy the public's confusion over the disparity.
For that reason, Noonan sentenced Snow to a 30-day intermittent jail term. From 6 p.m. on Fridays until 6 p.m. on Sundays, Snow will serve time in the Genesee County Jail. His sentence starts this Friday.
Snow's attorney, Clark Zimmerman, tried to argue that any jail time could jeopardize Snow's job, which occasionally requires travel and weekend work.
"I don't think anybody wants that to happen given the amount of restitution required," Zimmerman said.
He also noted that Snow's wife has significant health issues.
At one time, Snow was accused of stealing $60,000 from the fire department, a figure first uncovered by the state's Office of Comptroller. The firefighters' benevolence association had an independent audit completed and arrived at a figure unpaid of just over $16,000.
Snow was apparently taking money and returning some of it over a period of time. Zimmerman said he always made sure the department had enough money to cover critical expenses. He didn't disclose what Snow was doing with the money. He said his client had already reimbursed the department at least $8,000, but as a term of the plea deal, Snow could not dispute the restitution claim.
Upon completion of his jail term, Snow will be on probation for five years.
When asked to speak, Snow sobbed throughout his short statement to Noonan.
"I want to apologize in public to the Le Roy Fire Department and all the members, past and present, whose trust I violated," Snow said.
He apologized to his family for embrassing them and to the community that he said he has loved for 30 years.