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Deputy Who Took More Than $90K From Police Union Sentenced To Jail

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Ted Goodman Contributor
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Former Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Caito III was sentenced to 60 days in jail after stealing $92,148.21 from the police union where he served as treasurer.

Caito, 35, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony grand theft from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 104, where he was elected treasurer in 2014. Caito agreed to a restitution amount of $92,148.21, which he plans to pay back by liquidating his pension.

“I want to sincerely apologize to the FOP, both active and retired members,” Caito said Friday. “I’m extremely ashamed of myself. I’ve owned my mistake from the very beginning,” he continued, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Caito’s lawyer said that his client’s wife is suffering from an illness and medical issues have put a stress on the family finances. “Due to his actions, he lost a wonderful career, pension, dog, reputation and almost his family,” Caito’s attorney wrote in the sentencing memo, adding that the 11-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office was also a decorated veteran who served in Iraq.

“Stealing $92,000 from his fellow law enforcement officers deserved a sentence in which there had to be some incarceration,” Montgomery County assistant prosecutor Ward Barrentine said, acknowledging the unusual nature of the case since it involved a fellow law enforcement officer.

The union said that the actual loss was closer to $114,000 and hoped that Caito would serve time in jail. It asserts that Caito’s actions caused some members to resign and gave the union “a black eye in public opinion.”

Judge Dennis Langer of Montgomery County sentenced Caito to 60 days in jail, an additional 30 days on electronic monitoring and 200 hours of community service. The judge also ordered Caito to permanently surrender his peace officer certification for the state of Ohio.

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