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Former County Employee Enters "No Contest" Plea

Former County Employee Enters "No Contest" Plea - Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 6:17PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 @06:17pm EST
(WILKES-BARRE, Luzerne County) -

A fired Luzerne County worker is ordered to hand over the deed to his home and his pension after pleading "no contest" to stealing thousands of taxpayer dollars.

Former Chief Clerk Carl Salitis appeared in court Tuesday morning to answer to the felony charges against him. In the past, Carl Salitis has denied any wrongdoing.

On Tuesday Salitis of Throop acknowledged he does not wish to fight charges he apparently stole more than $100,000.00 dollars from the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds Office.

Reporter Jill Konopka asked, "Is there anything you want to say to the taxpayers of Luzerne County?" In exchange for this plea, Salitis will surrender the deed to his home and his pension.

Jarrett Ferentino is the Assistant District Attorney for Luzerne County, "Reviewing Mr. Salitis's job duties revealed that the buck stopped with Mr. Salitis."

Investigators say Salitis used his position as Chief Clerk to steal Wilkes-Barre City and School District tax dollars. Prosecutors tell WBRE news it happened over a seven-year period dating back to 1998.

A.D.A Ferentino added, "You're going to get caught, were going to get the money, we're going to take your home, whatever money we can. The taxpayers were the victim of this case. He cooked the books and he got burned."

Salitis is the second county employee charged with stealing from the Recorder of Deeds office.

Back in May, Robert Pritchard pleaded guilty to pocketing roughly $50,000.00 and was ordered to pay restitution. Prosecutors say they'll try to recover some of the missing money, which totaled about $425,000.00 after an audit.

Ferentino said, "We're going to seek every penny back of taxpayer dollars we can get." WBRE News spoke with the recorder of deeds last may. Mary Dysleski, Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds, "They were trusted employees, people you would never support."

Earlier this month Mary Dysleski lost her bid for re-election. Some speculate it's because of the thefts at the office. Either way, Dysleski says she's not satisfied with the Salitis plea.

She wonders "If it's enough to deter others from taking advantage of the citizens or the county." Carl Salitis will be sentenced in January, he faces up to 14 years behind bar. He's currently out on unsecured bail.
 


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