Former Ambulance Squad treasurer sentenced

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Rebecca A. Rodriguez (Photo Provided)

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May 12, 2009

By LOHR McKINSTRY The Press Republican Tue May 12, 2009, 03:04 PM EDT

ELIZABETHTOWN — A tearful and shaking Rebecca A. Rodriguez was led from court Tuesday after she got two to six years in state prison for stealing $9,600 from the Moriah Ambulance Squad.

Rodriguez, 38, of 17 Wasson St., Witherbee was in Essex County Court to be sentenced for the felonies of third-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records.

She admitted that while she was assistant captain and acting treasurer of the Moriah Ambulance Squad she took $9,600 from the squad’s treasury between March and May 2008 to pay a mortgage and buy a car.

BETRAYED TRUST

Judge Richard Meyer told Rodriguez that because she betrayed the public trust he didn’t believe probation or a County Jail sentence would be sufficient.

“You knowingly and intentionally stole from the Ambulance Squad, a community-spirited group of volunteers. I believe you are genuinely remorseful for your acts. But it is difficult to tell if that is just for what this is going to do to your family.”

He noted she stole on three occasions, including $1,500 to buy a car. The rest was an attempt to make back payments on a mortgage.

But a pre-sentence report prepared by the Essex County Probation Department showed that Rodriguez also spent about $400 a week playing bingo.

“Yet she was unable to pay her mortgage,” County District Attorney Julie Garcia said.

“That Ambulance Squad helps many, many people. Their good service is appreciated by all the people there. She stole from a public service.”

Garcia recommended state prison time, saying Rodriguez might need help with a gambling addiction.

Meyer sentenced Rodriguez to two to six years in state prison for the grand larceny and one and one-third to four years for falsifying business records, to be served concurrently.

COVERUP

State Police said that after she took the money, Rodriguez made false entries in the squad’s books to cover up the thefts, which brought the business-records charge.

Meyer pointed out the stealing took place even though Rodriguez must have known that he had just sentenced former Port Henry Village clerk-treasurer Barbara Tesar to state prison for embezzlement.

“The Tesar sentence had no effect on you,” Meyer told her.

Rodriguez said she knows what she did was wrong and has taken responsibility for it.

“I am truly sorry for what I’ve done. I’ve ripped apart my family. I’ve asked them to forgive me.”

SQUAD REPUTATION

Members of the Moriah Ambulance Squad were in court to say they haven’t forgiven Rodriguez.

Ambulance Squad member Todd Newton, a registered nurse, made a victim’s impact statement on behalf of the group.

“This woman has done more harm than embezzle funds for her own gain. She has damaged the reputation of the Moriah Ambulance Squad.”

Newton said Rodriguez worked to get former squad captain Louis Paris in trouble by turning him in to the State Department of Health for alleged errors on trip forms.

“Then he was cleared. She got him out of the way on purpose to embezzle the squad funds.”

The thefts were discovered anyway, by then-Squad Captain Neil A. Dupee, who noticed discrepancies in the squad’s checking account.

Newton said Rodriguez’s actions also resulted in five EMTs being suspended, but all were cleared and reinstated.

Rodriguez’s attorney, Peter Dumas, disagreed with the squad’s characterization of events, saying Rodriguez thought she was doing the right thing by reporting them to the state.

“She fessed up to every penny (taken). She was repentant. She was ready to take her medicine for it.”

Newton said that after she was arrested, he would see Rodriguez smiling at Moriah Central School football games.

“I don’t believe she exhibited a single drop of remorse for what she has done,” Newton said.

After court was adjourned, Newton declined to say whether he and the other members of the squad with him were satisfied with the sentence.

Rodriguez was taken to Essex County Jail to await transfer to a state correction facility.

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at:

lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com