Judge allows Scio firefighter to withdraw no contest plea in embezzlement case
A Washtenaw County judge today allowed Christopher Steeb to withdraw his plea agreement on an embezzlement charge, setting up a trial that could cost the Scio Township firefighter his freedom and career.
And he’ll have to fight the charges with a new attorney.
During a brief hearing, Steeb told Circuit Judge Archie Brown that he definitely wanted to withdraw his no contest plea to one count of embezzling between $50,000 and $100,000 from the Ann Arbor Moose.
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.
Comments
Billy
Thu, Oct 1, 2009 : 8:30 p.m.
Nice guy....sure, guess being nice excuses you from stealing. One of the hard pieces of evidence they have against him is that when being investigated he gave police forged check stubs. I believe giving the police forged documents is GLARING evidence of guilt....and stupidity if you don't think modern forensics will figure it out.
Isanopinion
Thu, Oct 1, 2009 : 2:16 p.m.
Yes, Chris is a very nice guy. But a guy who is on trial for a felony. His dishonesty makes the residents of Scio Township leery to have him responding to their homes. Personal attacks on his appearance are unnecessary. I feel that he should be suspended from the FD until this trial is over. I hope Chris did not do this. I hope it is proven he is innocent and I hope the Ann Arbor news posts his picture under the headline "Scio Firefighter acquitted of all charges".
Sherry
Thu, Oct 1, 2009 : 12:20 p.m.
This is so ridiculous that this is even a question of him doing this. Chris is a great firefighter and he needs to stay on his job, The Moose Lodge lodging such an unfounded report is funny, Maybe they should check other members of this Lodge as well.
j40258
Thu, Oct 1, 2009 : 10:10 a.m.
Chris is a great friend of mine. He has always worked for everything he has. He has also always gone out of his way to help others who need it. This is a ridiculous investigation that was picked up by the news because of his profession. I am not familiar what happened with the Moose but the details are very questionable. If it was so "cut and dry" a simple audit would have revealed the fraud and this whole thing would not be so drawn out. Anyways, I cannot imagine the affect this has taken on him. @BlueInWisconsin: Douche RWS
bunnyabbot
Thu, Oct 1, 2009 : 12:51 a.m.
you know, I went to grade school with him, he looks the same...the mustache is just more walrusy now
BlueInWisconsin
Wed, Sep 30, 2009 : 9:17 p.m.
Nice mustache