A Columbus man and the former treasurer of a Delaware County shooting club was given 21 days in jail and 18 months of community control for one count of theft.
Mark B. Snodgrass, 63, of 4175 Lawnview Drive, Columbus, appeared in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Monday to be sentenced for one count of theft, a fourth-degree felony.
Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge David Gormley sentenced Snodgrass to 21 days in the Delaware County Jail for the charge but specified that he could serve the sentence on work release, meaning he would spend part of the week in jail and part of the week at home so he can continue to work.
Snodgrass also must pay restitution in the amount of $21,133, which he said he has already paid back to a family member.
Additionally, Gormley sentenced him to 18 months of community control and ordered him to perform 40 hours of community service.
Snodgrass entered a guilty plea to the charge at a change of plea hearing on Oct. 17.
Prosecutors alleged that in 2015, while Snodgrass was the treasurer for the Big Walnut Conservation Club, located at 12211 Hartford Road in Sunbury, he took cash from the organization for personal use. The club offers club skeet, five-stand and trap shooting.
Snodgrass was sworn in at the change of plea hearing and told Gormley that he had been the treasurer in the club since 1991 or 1992 and was in charge of taking cash dues from members and depositing it in a checking account.
Snodgrass told Gormley that he started to take some of the money to pay bills. Smodgrass’s attorney, Lois Palau said that Snodgrass took the money to pay for truck repairs and health problems.
“I understood it was wrong,” Snodgrass said at the hearing in October. He added that one day he decided to turn himself in and told the club president about the money and tried to pay it back. He said he borrowed $21,133 from a family member.
He added he was in the process of selling his house to repay it.
Palau said this is Snodgrass’ first criminal offense and said he regrets the incident.
Court documents indicate Snodgrass will begin to serve his sentence on Dec. 2.
