Out-of-county Senior Judge John Bozza handed down the sentence against Timothy Lewis, 53, Wednesday at the Crawford County Courthouse in Meadville. The sentence also includes paying $121,588 in restitution, 48 months of probation following the conclusion of his jail term, 200 hours of community service and writing a letter of apology to the victim.
Lewis and his wife, Debra Gene Lewis, 50, were charged in March following an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police Organized Crime Task Force.
The investigation began in November 2015 following the departure of the couple from their respective positions. A review of financial records showed the lodge’s fund balance and gaming account balance had been nearly depleted, according to criminal complaints.
Investigators said that $123,588 was stolen from Moose Lodge No. 2505 in East Fairfield Township near Cochranton. The investigators said the couple stole the money between May 2011 and October 2014 during a time when they incurred significant gambling losses.
Timothy Lewis pleaded guilty in August to one count of theft by unlawful taking, a second-degree felony.
He resigned in late April as Crawford County jail warden after had been suspended with pay following his arraignment on March 31, and the Crawford County prison board modified the conditions of his suspension to without pay on April 4.
Debra Lewis, who previously worked as the lodge’s social quarters manager, has been accepted into the accelerated rehabilitative disposition program and was ordered to pay restitution.
