Former Planning Board Member Guilty of Stealing Nearly $170,000
Aaron Dock faces 15 years in jail, $25,000 fine.
A former member of the Baltimore County Planning Board pleaded guilty Tuesday in Baltimore County Circuit Court to stealing nearly $170,000 from a Baltimore-based fraternal organization.
Sentencing for Aaron Dock, 55, of the 9500 block of Georgian Way in Owings Mills, is scheduled for October.
Prosecutors said Dock stole money from two accounts owned by Pi Omega Foundation between Feb. 1, 2001 and April 30, 2009. In one case, Dock used his position as a signatory on an account to make changes that gave him sole authority to make withdrawals.
He also set up a bank account at a second bank, using an account name similar to one used by the fraternal organization, prosecutors said. Assistant State's Attorney Adam Lippe said Dock solicited donations and deposited the checks in that "shadow account."
Dock pleaded guilty to one count of theft in return for county prosecutors dropping a second charge.
The delay in sentencing by Circuit Court Judge H. Patrick Stringer in the fall gives Dock an opportunity to repay a portion of the $169,961 he stole from the organization. Making restitution could affect his sentence.
Dock faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine.
Dock, who remains free on bail, declined to comment after the hearing.
Dock was appointed in 2002 by then-Councilman Kevin Kamenetz to a position on the Planning Board. Dock was appointed to complete the term of Ken Oliver, who stepped down to run for Baltimore County Council. Oliver reappointed Dock, who was later removed from the board for failing to attend meetings.
Oliver, in an interview, said Dock missed 29 of 33 meetings during his time on the board.
Roxane
6:24 pm on Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Was this a paid position? So shouldn't he pay back a percentage of the salarey he didnt earn if it is a paid position?
Buzz Beeler
11:59 pm on Tuesday, June 14, 2011
I am totally shocked, utterly shocked that this was a Kamenetz appointment. I have to wait for my head to stop spinning. Imagine appointing someone who would do this?
By the way, is this the appointment who served time and then was pardoned before he got his other appointment?
Its hard to keep all this stuff straight.
Roxane
7:19 am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Touche' Buzz.
David Hyland
7:03 am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
So if you pay the money back does it make the THEFT , DECEPTION , AND GREED LESS? The State makes deals for a guilty plea when we should be ABSOLUTELY PROSECUTING THESE APPOINTED LEADERS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW FOR EVERY SINGLE CRIME. If it were an ordinary citizen you can bet they would get slammed in court. Why are we seeing this growing trend of "BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND". Look at Charlie Rangel with his deception and lies,.. a slap on the wrist and all is well. Sure, a fine example for the "SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN". How about Sheila Dixon and her Paid Vacation from Politics. Lets not put Weiner in the done category with his sudden "I'M SICK PLEA". He became sick the minute he got caught. All these things add up to loss of public trust and I don't know about you, I'm sick of it. As I said before, I CANNOT WAIT TO VOTE!
buck hershey
6:06 pm on Thursday, June 16, 2011
Right on David! Average Joe 6 pack gets shafted and screwed everyday, red light cameras, parking
fines, beltway speed cameras, bay bridge tolls, radar tickets, $ 22 to park a car downtown for 20 minutes, etc.
Mike Lurz
10:07 am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Paying the money back does not undo the crime, nor does any other fine, imprisonment or punishment. It does however recoup a loss to a state government that is constantly teetering on bankruptcy.
buck hershey
6:10 pm on Thursday, June 16, 2011
my sense of restitution over the years is that nobody pays any amount back to any government. I do not believe he will pay a cent. The government is bankrupt becasue they refuse to stop wasting and
spending our tax $$. Rick Scott, new Florida governor wants to start drug testing all welfare recipients. Do you think O'Malley would even consider that? The fraud in receiving welfare, SSI,
unemployment benefits is disability, etc. is all over the place.
Buzz Beeler
10:27 am on Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Teresa, thank you, I appreciate that.
The great thing about this site is the people now have a real impact on the political scene in the county.
Our voice is being heard. I can tell you that each day every word we say is being perused by the powers that be.
We all are in the process of the true saying of the famous statement of, "for the people and by the people."
When they realize that we are monitoring the wheeling and dealing that goes on behind closed doors, those doors will begin to open and we will get to see who is lurking in the shadows.
All we need to do is turn the light on.
Thanks again.
amdactivist
7:58 am on Friday, June 17, 2011
wow.. who'd expect a thief in office. Corruption rules.. Gotta wonder whose hand he fed.. Maybe he'll crow..
Jim21236
9:06 am on Friday, June 17, 2011
Planning Board is not a paid position. If he only attended 4 out of 33 members I'd say he really wasn't a member of the board. I guess he was busy embezzling funds.