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Plea deal accepted in Covelli vendor theft
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Kathy Lewis
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Mark P. Daigle
YOUNGSTOWN
The former office manager of the Covelli Centre’s food-and-drink vendor will have to undergo treatment for drug and alcohol abuse and make restitution of the funds she stole.
Kathy Lewis, 40, of Karl Street, entered into a plea agreement Wednesday in the courtroom of Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on a felony theft charge.
She entered her guilty plea after a motion made by her lawyer for treatment in lieu of conviction.
Lewis and Mark Daigle, 38, of Steeplechase Drive, Canfield, had been charged with stealing between $5,000 and $100,000 from the vendor, Centerplate Inc., between Dec. 7, 2007, and Jan. 26, 2010. If she violates the terms of the agreement, she could go to prison for six to 18 months.
According to Vindicator files, police earlier investigated whether a Jan. 26, 2010, robbery at the Covelli Centre was staged to cover up the embezzlement.
Lewis was the supposed victim of the robbery, in which about $90,000 was taken from the food vendor at the city-owned arena.
The court ordered Lewis to complete counseling, complete drug-and-alcohol treatment, and make restitution in the amount of $15,000.
If she does not complete the treatment courses and make restitution within the next year, she will face the prison term. The theft charge would be dismissed if she successfully completes treatment.
Lewis is expected to make a one-third payment on the restitution amount sometime this week.
Michael McBride, an assistant county prosecutor, said Lewis is fully expected to comply with the court order.
“[Intervention in lieu of conviction] is her statutory right, and she is eligible. She is not a violent person, and we are getting the restitution of funds. It is up to her [to comply] now,” he said.
Treatment in lieu of conviction is available only to people charged with fourth- or fifth-degree felonies who have no prior felony convictions.
Daigle in January also made a motion for intervention in lieu of conviction, but that motion has not been ruled on by the court. He also faces a prison term of six to 18 months in prison on a theft charge.
Atty. Mark A. Carfolo, representing Daigle, asked for the intervention based on his client’s alcohol abuse.
“The defendant was drug-dependent at the time of committing the offense at bar. He is still drug-dependent, and, if he does not receive treatment, he is in jeopardy of committing other crimes,” Carfolo wrote in the motion.