A Harford man was sentenced to one year in jail for stealing more $80,000 from his Howard employer, which he used to purchase items, such as golf equipment costing between $6,000 and $8,000.
Timothy Shipe, 40, of Havre de Grace, pleaded guilty to the theft in June before Howard Circuit Judge Richard Bernhardt and agreed Thursday to pay $45,000 in restitution to Kane Co. Office Movers in Elkridge.
“Whenever you threaten a company, you threaten the livelihood of everyone who works for that company,” Bernhardt told Shipe
before handing down a sentence of 10 years with all but one year suspended to be served at the Howard County Detention Center.
Shipe, who appeared timid, had asked Bernhardt not to incarcerate him, citing his 12-year-old stepson, Bryan, who suffers from a medical condition and relies on Shipe for daily in-home treatment and financial support.
“Because of a special bond that we have, [Bryan] will only allow me to inject those needles,” he wrote in a statement.
“I made him a promise that I will always be there for him.
“… Please grant me probation for my actions, so I may be out working to support my family, provide the life-sustaining treatment that my stepson needs, and to be able to pay back the remaining debt owed to the Kane Co.”
Bernhardt instead postponed the incarceration until October, affording Shipe time to apply for work release so he can support his family while in jail.
According to prosecutors, Shipe pocketed revenue from recycling metal office furniture while he managed the Hunt Valley office for the company.
The Kane Co. movers relocated offices for clients and recycled their unwanted metal furniture for cash, said Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Lynn Marshall.
Shipe instructed Office Movers drivers to take furniture to Baltimore Scrap recycling and give the proceeds to him, not the corporate office between 2004 and 2006, Marshall said.
“As we now know, Shipe was not only a liar, but also a thief,” said Ronald Meliker, executive vice president of Kane Co., in a statement. “Not only did he steal from his employer, who I might add was paying him a significant salary … but he also stole the intangible fabric of our leadership with our employees and co-workers — trust and integrity.”
Shipe resigned in August 2006 after learning of the company’s internal audit.
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