DARLINGTON - A Darlington man pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week to six months in jail and three years of probation for embezzling more than $55,000 from the Darlington Fire Department, after several prominent community members wrote letters of support for him to the judge.
Jonathan Grossen, 31, entered the plea agreement last Thursday, Aug. 29, in Lafayette County Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty to a Class G felony charge of theft and misdemeanor counts of theft and forgery.
His jail term is scheduled to begin Oct. 1, with Huber work release.
As part of his agreement, Grossen must pay $47,284 in restitution to the Darlington Fire Department by August 2020. He is also ordered not to drink or go into bars or liquor stores during his probation, or consume nonprescription controlled substances or prescriptions for which he does not have a prescription.
He must also undergo an assessment for alcohol and other drug abuse and follow through with all recommendations.
Grossen was a firefighter and the fire department's membership treasurer at the time of the thefts, between 2009 and 2012. The money was stolen out of donation accounts.
Part of the money has already been recovered - a $7,393 check intended for the Darlington Fire Commission.
Grossen was charged in July 2012, after Darlington police conducted an eight-week investigation into his bookkeeping.
The investigation turned the tables on Grossen, a former employee at the Darlington Police Department. He was hired on full-time in 2007 but later asked to resign by Chief Jason King, according to a bio prepared recently by his defense attorney, Jordan C. Loeb of the Madison firm Cullen Weston Pines and Bach.
"The chief of police was unsatisfied with his job performance," the bio states.
King headed the embezzlement investigation of Grossen. Neither King nor District Attorney Kate Findley immediately returned requests for comment.
Defense attorney Loeb describes Grossen in his bio as a hard-working person who nonetheless "struggled to find gainful, full-time employment." Grossen and his wife's "financial difficulties are based on having children at a young age, before achieving financial stability and good employment."
Letters to Judge Thomas Vale reveal Grossen has strong support from prominent community members in Darlington, despite his apparent struggles.
Jack Sauer, chair of the Lafayette County Board, wrote that Grossen "is a very productive person and is an asset to our farm operation, his community and most importantly, his family."
Letters of support also came from fellow firefighters Eric and Ethan Glendenning and James Johnson, Sauer's son Brock Sauer, John Duerr of the Scales Mound Fire Department and retired teacher Spring D. Klaus.
Kevin and Peggy Glendenning, Darlington, described Grossen in their letter as a "vital part of our community."
Jonathan Grossen, 31, entered the plea agreement last Thursday, Aug. 29, in Lafayette County Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty to a Class G felony charge of theft and misdemeanor counts of theft and forgery.
His jail term is scheduled to begin Oct. 1, with Huber work release.
As part of his agreement, Grossen must pay $47,284 in restitution to the Darlington Fire Department by August 2020. He is also ordered not to drink or go into bars or liquor stores during his probation, or consume nonprescription controlled substances or prescriptions for which he does not have a prescription.
He must also undergo an assessment for alcohol and other drug abuse and follow through with all recommendations.
Grossen was a firefighter and the fire department's membership treasurer at the time of the thefts, between 2009 and 2012. The money was stolen out of donation accounts.
Part of the money has already been recovered - a $7,393 check intended for the Darlington Fire Commission.
Grossen was charged in July 2012, after Darlington police conducted an eight-week investigation into his bookkeeping.
The investigation turned the tables on Grossen, a former employee at the Darlington Police Department. He was hired on full-time in 2007 but later asked to resign by Chief Jason King, according to a bio prepared recently by his defense attorney, Jordan C. Loeb of the Madison firm Cullen Weston Pines and Bach.
"The chief of police was unsatisfied with his job performance," the bio states.
King headed the embezzlement investigation of Grossen. Neither King nor District Attorney Kate Findley immediately returned requests for comment.
Defense attorney Loeb describes Grossen in his bio as a hard-working person who nonetheless "struggled to find gainful, full-time employment." Grossen and his wife's "financial difficulties are based on having children at a young age, before achieving financial stability and good employment."
Letters to Judge Thomas Vale reveal Grossen has strong support from prominent community members in Darlington, despite his apparent struggles.
Jack Sauer, chair of the Lafayette County Board, wrote that Grossen "is a very productive person and is an asset to our farm operation, his community and most importantly, his family."
Letters of support also came from fellow firefighters Eric and Ethan Glendenning and James Johnson, Sauer's son Brock Sauer, John Duerr of the Scales Mound Fire Department and retired teacher Spring D. Klaus.
Kevin and Peggy Glendenning, Darlington, described Grossen in their letter as a "vital part of our community."