Ohio businessman gets 4 years in prison for schools theft

CLEVELAND (AP) — A Toledo businessman has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the theft of $154,400 from the Cleveland city school district.

Fifty-seven-year-old John Briggle could have received a maximum 25 years in prison today on his guilty pleas to theft, evidence tampering and other charges.

But Judge Dick Ambrose of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court noted that Briggle’s testimony helped prosecutors convict former school district business manager Daniel Burns, who has been sentenced to six years in the case.

Ambrose reminded Briggle he participated in a scheme against a school system that cannot afford losses of money or public trust. Briggle apologized.

The judge fined him $20,000 and ordered him to pay $123,000 in restitution.