Former Rome School District employees sentenced

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Former Rome School District employees sentenced

By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Oct 7, 2008 at 12:40 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 7, 2008 at 2:41 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Two former Rome City School District employees were sentenced in Oneida County Court Tuesday after pleading guilty to three felonies following an investigation into theft from the district.

The investigation revealed the two used funds from the buildings and grounds department to buy items - including snow blowers and hot water heaters - for their homes.

In exchange for his guilty pleas, former grounds supervisor William Ruane will be on probation for the next five years and perform 200 hours of community service.

Ruane has already paid restitution to the district.

In exhange for his guilty pleas, former facilities director Vito Rizzo will spend five years on probation.

Court officials say he has already paid restitution.

The investigation originally showed that the two owed the district roughly $13,000.

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Thursday, Oct 30 at 2:17 PM confused wrote ...

You have got to be kidding me!Our childrens education suffer,teachers let go, sports taken away, and we the tax payers have no say in what they have taken away from our children to supply thier selfish needs. What a joke !! I agree with - hungry & take a steak from a local store, serve time. They get basically nothing ?

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Wednesday, Oct 8 at 12:46 PM amazing wrote ...

what greed will do to one. destroy your family and CHILDREN. lose a good paying job. lose everyones respect for you.the 2 of them didn't care about any of that or the taxpayers,they should have been sent to jail for there crimes.if it was anyone else they would be gone for a long time.

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Wednesday, Oct 8 at 10:29 AM gem wrote ...

time now for mr thomas and mr simons to respectfully resign. there is no accountability and all respect has been lost for both men. time to walk away and let someone do the real job.

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Wednesday, Oct 8 at 12:55 AM rome wrote ...

so the mayor's relative gets probation! how nice - would we all get just that? Looks like grand larceny but judge says 5 yrs. pro and service. big deal!

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Tuesday, Oct 7 at 10:58 PM No Jail wrote ...

I am hungry. If I go steal a 5 dollar steak from Price Chopper I go to jail, but they stole 13,000 and get probation. Hmmm, I am confused. Wher eis the justice. Wake up crooked Judges. Balzano must have resided over this one.

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Tuesday, Oct 7 at 9:56 PM curious wrote ...

how do school officials get away with pocketing money from a school district. Who looks over them? Steal from the poor people and give to themselves. Greed will get you everytime.

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Tuesday, Oct 7 at 9:39 PM BFTE wrote ...

LOSERS...And they wonder why the economy hurts us taxpayers....greed takes over everytime

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Tuesday, Oct 7 at 4:17 PM wow wrote ...

another fine deal! These guys need to get into the local goverment now!

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Tuesday, Oct 7 at 1:12 PM uh.. wrote ...

and what about the other guy? it says both of them were in court for sentencing. now all they need to do is take care of Mr. Thomas who "oops!" found $10 million - SAD!

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Tuesday, Oct 7 at 1:00 PM justMe wrote ...

Ruane got probation since he paid the money back but why isn't there anything about Rizzo?

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