(This article originally appeared in the May 30, 2012 edition of The Lake County Star)
BALDWIN – Embezzlement charges against a former Village of Baldwin treasurer have been dismissed.
Dale Dailey, 51, was arrested Feb. 16 and was charged with one count of embezzlement by a government agent or trustee between $1,000 and $20,000. The felony charge carried a punishment of up to five years in prison and fine of $10,000 or three times amount stolen, whatever was greater.
The former village official was, however, sentenced and fined after pleading no contest to a lesser charge.
Bailey pleaded no contest to one count of making a false statement of public finance and transfer of same on May 21, according to Lake County Trial Court records. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but it is viewed as a conviction when it comes to sentencing.
Dailey was sentenced to pay $350 in fines and court costs and a suspended sentence of 90 days in jail by 78th District Court Judge Mark Wickens. The court can enforce the jail sentence for up to one year if Dailey gets in any trouble during the probationary period, according to the Lake County prosecutor’s office.
Dailey declined to comment for this story.
From the Mind of Joe Martinez 