Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home Municipal Judge Larry Houchin sentenced former Senior Center Manager Michael Riggle to 15 days of jail Thursday afternoon.
Riggle was transported immediately to Linn County Jail to serve the time.
Riggle failed to comply with his sentence given by the judge in May when he pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree theft.
Riggle had been sentenced to 10 days of compensatory service, to be completed by July 15. He was also ordered to pay fines and restitution of $910.10 and serve two years of probation.
He told the court in May that he planned to move back to California, and Judge Houchin told him he would need the court?s permission before leaving the state.
On May 7, he was assigned to work for the Gleaners. He asked for a different work assignment and was placed with the Dream Center where he worked eight of the 80 required hours.
On July 6, the Dream Center reported that he had left the state.
The judge asked if he had paid any of his fines. Riggle said he had not. He told Judge Houchin he left for California on the 28th because his nephew had been killed in San Diego. He was gone for three weeks.
Judge Houchin asked whether Riggle had read the probation order, particularly the bottom full line where it says, the defendant shall not leave the state of Oregon without prior written consent of the court.
?I didn?t move,? Riggle said.
?I didn?t say move,? Judge Houchin said. ?I said leave.?
Riggle said he had no income, but he had his third interview Thursday for a job paying $1,100 to $1,200 per month and could start paying soon.
?When you violate a public trust, there?s consequences,? Judge Houchin said. He ordered Riggle to serve 15 days in jail beginning Thursday. He told Riggle, ?if you screw up again,? it would be two years.
?You?ve twice violated the trust this community has given to you,? Judge Houchin said.
He also ordered Riggle to complete the two years of probation and begin paying $50 a month toward his fines and restitution beginning Oct. 25.
Riggle was dismissed earlier this year from the Senior Center where he had worked since May 2003.
The New Era published a story earlier this year, following a public records request to Sacramento Superior Court, explaining a previous welfare fraud conviction. The New Era was tipped off by a former employee of the Senior Center who had been fired by Riggle. Riggle was still on probation for the misdemeanor when he went to work for the Senior Center.
The Senior Center Board of Directors met in closed session with Riggle and placed him on 90 days probation in relation to other issues. Following a later dismissal, the Senior Center learned that Riggle had paid his cable and power bills with Senior Center funds leading to the theft charges.