A former volunteer who admitted stealing over $30,000 from the Wayland Christian Neighbors Food Pantry was sentenced to jail and probation in Allegan County Circuit Court.
Dale Alan Whittredge, 49, of Shelbyville was in court Monday, Oct. 30, and was sentenced on charges of attempted embezzlement.
Harold Howe of Christian Neighbors said he hoped Whittredge would receive the six month jail sentence.
“Hopefully he can reflect on the people he hurt, where we couldn’t give out as much food to families who needed help,” Howe said. “This affected hundreds of people over the years.”
Whittredge handed over a check for $30,586.02, which was given to the charity at the court hearing.
Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney Roberts Kengis said, “This has not hurt just the food pantry, but the hundreds of clients they help.”
The charge in the case was amended from embezzlement to attempted embezzlement by the prosecution after the check for restitution was handed over. Plea hearings in the case were rescheduled several times because the prosecution insisted on repayment before sentencing as one condition of a reduced charge.
Whittredge’s attorney, Paul Klein, said his client understood he’d done wrong.
“Mr. Whittredge understands he has hurt a lot of folks,” Klein said. “He’s offered me no excuses and no explanations for this and he’s been nothing but remorseful to me.”
His client was working 75 to 80 hours in the Mt. Pleasant area, Klein said, so he could pay back the loan he’d taken out to pay back Christian Neighbors. He asked that Whittredge receive a jail sentence that allowed him to continue working.
Whittredge said, “I am terribly sorry for what I’ve done. I accept full responsibility.
“I was in a horrible, desperate situation and I made a horrible decision.
“I pray every day for forgiveness, but I can’t forgive myself for what I’ve done.”
Bakker said that to take advantage of a small community nonprofit that existed to help hungry people was shocking.
“That’s astounding to the court,” she said.
Bakker sentenced Whittredge to two years probation and 180 days in jail, but gave him the chance to petition the court to have the final 90 days of the sentence suspended for good behavior on probation and in jail. He was allowed to serve his jail time on weekends and must do 80 hours of community service.
Wayland Christian Neighbors has changed its procedures and resumed doing a few things it had done in the past to make sure donated money is safe in the future.
Anyone from the northeast corner of the county in need of assistance can come to the pantry on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. and get food assistance once per month. A short form to assure they qualify is required. An emergency number for desperate situations is posted on the door.
Contact Dan Pepper at dpepper@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.
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