NORWICH – Former Earlville Mayor Toni Campbell appeared in Chenango County Court Monday as prosecutors claimed she stole nearly $98,000 – double the original amount.
In another unfavorable development for Campbell, the couple who posted her original $20,000 bail asked for their money back and recommended to Judge W. Howard Sullivan that she be placed behind bars.
The New York State Police arrested 36-year-old Campbell of 21 Greene St., on July 2, claiming she used her position as finance manager to steal more than $42,000 from her former employer, Chenango Valley Pet Foods in Sherburne.
The Earlville Village Clerk’s Office reported Campbell was in her third term as mayor at the time of her arrest. Before a standing-room-only crowd at the July 11 village board meeting, without Campbell present, a statement was read announcing her immediate resignation.
The board voted to appoint Trustee and Deputy Mayor Mark Doeberl to complete the vacant term through May 31, 2011. “It appears at this point that there was no wrongdoing of the village’s finances,” Doeberl told the crowd following his appointment.
Appearing yesterday with her defense attorney, Scott Clippinger of Smyrna, Campbell waived her right to have her case presented before a grand jury and is now charged with second degree grand larceny, a C class felony. District Attorney Joseph McBride said the crime involves the theft of about $98,000 – more than twice what prosecutors originally thought.
Police said Campbell worked for the Sherburne company for two years and her position was eliminated more than a week before she was arrested, with her employer reportedly unaware of any wrongdoing on her part.
Eight days later, one of the company’s banks called the business after noticing an address change on one of their corporate credit cards, according to troopers. The company later learned that the address matched Campbell’s private residence in Earlville, and contacted police.
Police said Campbell used the money to purchase a pick-up truck and ATV as gifts to friends, bought cruise and airline tickets and a number of smaller personal items, all with the company’s credit card.
Campbell pleaded not guilty to the charge and McBride then asked to have her remanded to jail on new bail.
McBride said the couple who originally posted the $20,000 bail, using $1,900 in cash and the rest in property, wanted to withdraw their funds.
“This has been a very difficult matter involving family disputes,” Clippinger told the judge.
Sullivan called the current bail posters, Kim and Paul Panzo, before the court to hear their explanation.
“I’d object to any family slander in court your honor. They posted the bail and now they want it back,” said McBride.
The Panzos told Sullivan that Campbell had refused contact with them after they posted her bail and they were in fear of losing their money and property. Kim Panzo said, “She’s a definite flight risk.” The couple also said Campbell had checked herself in to a psychiatric center following the arrest and they questioned her stability.
McBride asked the judge to exonerate the bail and set a new amount.
Sullivan ordered Campbell to secure alternative bail within two weeks or face being sent back to the county jail.