John R. Buonomo, the former registrar of probate for Middlesex County, may be a convicted thief serving time behind bars at a house of correction, but he can still count on his pension check arriving on time every month.
That’s the result of a ruling last week of a district court judge, who had to determine whether the crimes Buonomo committed as an elected court official should negate a public pension earned years earlier as a Somerville officeholder.
“His conviction occurred years after he retired,” Judge James H. McGuinness wrote in a May 28 ruling, concluding that Buonomo's pension is beyond reach.
“The acts complained of were not related to the employment from which he had retired,” he wrote.