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Imprisoned ex-clerk selling off inheritance
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - August 05, 2010)
Imprisoned ex-clerk selling off inheritance
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Former Chester Clerk Michael Spellman made some repayment last week of the estimated $4.3 million he stole from the township while serving as a public official.
Mr. Spellman, in handcuffs, appeared in Geauga County Common Pleas Court on July 21 to seek the return of items that will be sold to pay a small portion of what he has been ordered to make restitution for.
Mr. Spellman is serving a 10-year sentence for the thefts that occurred while he was township clerk from August 1996 through February 2004.
Mr. Spellman pleaded guilty in January 2004 to two counts of theft in office, one count of aggravated theft, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of tampering with records, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of unauthorized use of a computer and 333 counts of forgery.
He began serving his sentence March 4, 2004.
Some members of the community had expressed anger at that time by suggesting punishments for the man who funneled township funds into a charitable organization, known as Hollywood Charities. But rather than perform charitable acts, the money enabled Mr. Spellman to live the high life. At the time of his sentencing, residents suggested that he be paraded through town in a cage during the annual Fourth of July celebration or be hanged in the public square.
At the time of sentencing, Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce said estimates on the amount owed were placed at $4,286,893. Because of a 10 percent annual interest, he said, the amount owed is in the neighborhood of $6 million.
Mr. Joyce said Mr. Spellman was required to formally claim ownership last week to the items that were part of his mother's inheritance to allow the courts to auction them and return the proceeds to the township. Mr. Spellman is the lone heir to the items, Mr. Joyce said.
Among the items to be auctioned, he said, are a two-carat sapphire ring, a Leroy Neiman painting, an autographed photograph of five U.S. presidents, a stamp collection, a diamond wedding ring, a sterling silver serving tray, a gold bracelet, diamond earrings, a $500 Saks Fifth Avenue gift card, 22 gold coins, 80 silver dollars, one Caeser Tiberius coin, a $1,000 bill, one pound of pure silver, five computers, one 1917 Russian rubble and a digital camera.
The hearing allowed for Mr. Spellman to take possession of the items and authorize an auction for the benefit of the township. Mr. Joyce said other virtually worthless items, such as tax records, would be destroyed unless Mr. Spellman decided to keep them.
All of the property has been kept as evidence until this time at the Chester Police Department, Mr. Joyce said.
Chester Township Trustee Judy Caputo, who attended the hearing, said the items are "something we're entitled to get."
"I will do whatever is possible to get whatever dollars back for the township," she said. "Any dime, nickel or quarter that we can get, I will fight for."
Mrs. Caputo said she wonders whether the prison sentence is sufficient punishment, noting that Mr. Spellman had a better tan than she did when he appeared in court.
She said it appeared that Mr. Spellman has been keeping up with the latest township news from his prison cell. "He was very up to date on what's going on in Chester Township," she said.
Mrs. Caputo, who took office years after Mr. Spellman's conviction, said he even knew her when she appeared in court. "He knew who I was," she said.
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