Pocono News Section

Theft Suspect Sentenced to Prison in Tunkhannock

Theft Suspect Sentenced to Prison in Tunkhannock - Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 4:50PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Wednesday, Mar 10, 2010 @ 05:50pm EST
TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY - A man is going to prison after pleading guilty to theft and forgery charges in Wyoming County.

Prosecutors say Donald Miller stole more than $56,000 from his employer. Miller was sentenced to between eight months and nearly two years behind bars. Police say the 21-year-old was working as a secretary at Schaefer's Plumbing and Heating when he took the money.

For business owner Eric Schaefer, he's been living a nightmare, trying to re-coup from the big financial hit.

"It's a daily thing that you have to answer to creditors and you have to answer to suppliers and try to explain to customers and everybody why you can't get there, why you can't buy parts anymore," Eric Schaefer said.

"I have no comment without my lawyer present," is the only thing Miller would say to Eyewitness News as he was led out of the Wyoming County courthouse.

"We hired him. I knew the family. I really expected that he was going to be a good employee," Schaefer said.

Schaefer and current employees came to hear Miller's sentence Wednesday morning. They endured nearly a month without paychecks after the crime was discovered.

"I never expected it. He had us all," employee Dave Posten said. "I never suspected. He had us all fooled."

Miller's attorney says his client is sorry for what happened but he still maintains Miller only stole a little more than $5,000 from the business.

"We will probably be back in court for a hearing on restitution issues. We want the Schaefer's to be paid fairly for the crimes Donald committed. We disagree on what the fair amount is," defense attorney Thomas Meheher said.

As for the sentence, Schaefer wonders if justice was served.

"I think it was a little bit light, seeing as the severity of the crime. He put a third-generation business in really bad shape right now," Schaefer said.