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Does The Time Fit The Crime?

Does The Time Fit The Crime? - Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 11:17PM EST

? Reported by: Joe Holden
Thursday, Jun 5, 2008 @ 11:17pm EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- They swiped cash. Tens of thousands of dollars taken while serving offices of public trust.

Carl Salitis, Ruth Ann Lyons and Robert Pritchard were ousted from their government posts. The firings happened after scandals emerged regarding their handling of money.

Lyons stole $42 thousand from Wilkes-Barre Township. The disgraced tax collector pleaded guilty Thursday and paid back that money. Lyons received 12 months probation. She won't spend a day in jail.

"Is there fairness and justice for crimes? It depends on who you are and what you know? Is that what it is?" Connie Ostrowksi, Kingston, asked after we told her about the sentence.

Earlier this year, Salitis pleaded no contest. He was charged with funneling $100 thousand from the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds office. He was sentenced to a house arrest term. Salitis won't spend a day behind bars.

"If I had done that, I'd be in jail, so why aren't they? That's my question," Lolita Devon, Exeter, said.

Pritchard also worked in the deeds office. He pleaded guilty to stealing $50 thousand. The judge handed Prtichard a house arrest sentence.

The District Attorney's office confirms all three defendants entered their pleas before Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Ciavarella. DA Jackie Musto Carroll said while the sentences were within guidelines, she wouldn't have minded seeing jail time. Carroll said no sentencing deals were made with any of the defendants. She said it was the judge's call. "It's up to the courts."

"A senior citizen working every day and these guys steal money that actually belongs to us, the taxpayers. And then they're giving them house arrest, no way. They should be in jail," Ed Farrell, West Wyoming, said.

The I-Team tried to speak with Salitis. No one appeared to be home at his Duryea residence.

"I think house arrest was too easy on them, you know. They're just criminals as far as I'm concerned. If they came and stole your wallet, would you want them in jail," Farrell asked.

The DA said at least one of the defendants had asked to be considered for the first-time offender program. Carroll said she refused the request. She also required the most serious charge stick.

But people we talked with did not support this serving of justice. Most told us they would've landed in jail if it was them.

 


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