Former library treasurer sentenced for embezzlement
Story Created:
Mar 17, 2010 at 5:06 PM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 18, 2010 at 1:32 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Lawrence Recor will spend the next three to nine years in prison after admitting he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Erwin Library and the Kiwanis Club of Boonville.
Recor received his sentence Wednesday afternoon in Oneida County Court, after the case had been adjourned several times.
Recor made substantial restitution by Wednesday, paying back $150,000 of the money he admitted to embezzling - but that's only about a third of what he stole.
The 64 year old from Boonville said he started stealing from the two non-profits five years ago when his business got in trouble.
Recor had served as the library treasurer for 20 years.
"I never took this money with the intention of keeping it," Recor said in court, publicly apologizing. "Therefore, I will work for the rest of my life to see that this is paid back in full. I took the money for the sole purpose of trying to survive my business."
Assistant District Attorney Bernard Hyman, however, found that to be no excuse for his actions saying, "This is obviously a case that involves selfish greed of the worst kind."
Oneida County Judge Michael Dwyer said he keeps seeing more cases in court just like this one.
"With all these cases...the great majority of time it ends up with someone like yourself going to state prison for a long, long time," Judge Dwyer told Recor at the sentencing. "And each and every time, I hope that its going to send a message out there, and I just don't see any decrease in the number of larceny cases that are coming in front of me. I wish people would learn the lesson."
Recor did receive a lighter prison sentence for making substantial restitution Wednesday, and also waived his right to an appeal with a guilty plea in the case.
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