Man agrees to repay funds stolen from Glenwood Ave. VFW

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A man who pleaded guilty to stealing money from a Veterans of Foreign Wars post last year was placed on two years’ probation Thursday but warned if he does not pay off what he owes, he will spend a year and a half in prison.

James Lottier, 73, of St. Louis Avenue, received the sentence from Judge R. Scott Krichbaum in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Lottier was to be sentenced Dec. 19 for taking $13,000 from VFW Post 504 on Glenwood Avenue, but that sentencing was postponed because he had no money to pay back the day he was to be sentenced.

Thursday, Lottier presented half the money and has to make payments of $500 a month until what he took is paid back. If he misses a payment, he can be sentenced to prison.

The victims in the case did not address the court.

They did speak to the court at Lottier’s sentencing hearing in December.

At the time then, Lottier said he took the money to help out a son who had debts.

He had offered the $500 monthly payments at that hearing.

Prosecutors said Lottier had been taking the money for about a year before he was caught.