Judge allows Scio firefighter to withdraw no contest plea in embezzlement case

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as one for sentencing purposes. Steeb was to be sentenced earlier this month, but changed his mind and had his attorney file an emergency request to reconsider.

Brown granted Steeb’s request after transcripts from the July 1 plea hearing showed that the agreement was only taken under advisement and conditional on Steeb being able to pay restitution.

He was not prepared to pay at the scheduled sentencing earlier this month despite remaining on duty as a lieutenant with the Scio Township Fire Department, officials said.

The decision nullified a deal with prosecutors who would have dismissed a felony charge of embezzlement exceeding $100,000. It also nixed a sentencing agreement with Brown that took Steeb’s long record of service to the community as a firefighter into account and would have prevented jail time, his attorney, James Fifelski said.

If convicted, he now faces up to 20 years in prison, records show.

Steeb, 34, of Dexter, was an administrator with the lodge at the time the alleged thefts occurred between 2005 and 2007. Police reports indicated that he wrote checks from the organization’s account for personal use, and he would purposely go to meetings without financial records, often explaining to other members that he forget them.

The missing money was reported to the Michigan State Police last year.

Fifelski also requested to be removed from the case, citing a breakdown in client/attorney relations. Steeb agreed to let Fifelski represent him Wednesday, but said he wanted a new attorney for trial.

Prosecutors did not contest Steeb’s right to withdraw the plea.

Steeb remains free on personal recognizance bond and is on active duty.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28.