A former Ohio University airport employee pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of theft in office as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid two other felony charges. Tom Stellwag, who resigned from his position at the OU Gordon K. Bush Airport in March, faces up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. As part of the plea deal, he also agreed to repay OU $6,049 for the items stolen. He will be sentenced Dec. 18.
Accused of stealing airplane parts for personal use, Stellwag initially pleaded not guilty to three separate felony charges, the most severe of which was theft in office, a fourth-degree felony. By pleading guilty to that charge, Stellwag avoided additional fifth-degree felony charges of theft and falsification. Each of those charges carried a maximum prison sentence of one year and a maximum fine of $25,000.
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Matt Zapotosky
