Former sheriff’s employees get OK to leave jail on work release

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — The judge who sentenced two former Trumbull County sheriff’s employees to jail time for stealing money from an organization they founded has allowed both men to leave jail on work release.

Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court has granted work release to Anthony Leshnack, 41, of Warren, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday so he can work for RWC Rentals of Warren and Girard.

Judge McKay earlier approved work release Monday through Friday for Peter Pizzulo, 47, of Warren, so he could work at his home- improvement/construction business.

Pizzulo’s 30-day jail sentence ends Saturday.

Judge McKay sentenced Pizzulo to 30 days in the Geauga County Jail for stealing $8,500 and sentenced Leshnack to 90 days in that facility for stealing $33,000.

The men took the money from the Ohio Narcotics Officers Association, which they founded in 2004.

Leshnack began work Monday and began his jail sentence Saturday.

Both men resigned their jobs as sergeants with the sheriff’s department after an investigation was conducted into the fund-raising organization, and Sheriff Thomas Altiere threatened to fire them.