Former Safety Harbor finance director gets six months in jail

LARGO — A year after she was arrested and accused of stealing from the city of Safety Harbor, former finance director JoAnne Ryan was sentenced Monday to a year in the Pinellas County Jail.

Six months of her time will be spent on work release.

She was escorted away immediately.

"You are a good person, but you made some very serious mistakes you knew were wrong," Pinellas Pasco Circuit Judge Thane Covert said. "You should never hold a position of trust in the future."

Ryan, who accepted a plea deal to second-degree grand theft, also was sentenced to 15 years of probation and to pay $128,000 in restitution. She's already paid about $58,000.

Covert said the sentence will allow her the opportunity to move on.

About 75 supporters including Ryan's husband, Tim, three of their children and representatives from the city packed the courtroom for the two-hour hearing.

Ryan's lawyer, Ronnie Crider, said Ryan is not making any excuses for her behavior and had asked for a non-prison sentence.

"No one else took this money,'' he said. "She did. She's taking full responsibility.

Ryan was fired August 2008 after City Manager Matt Spoor discovered that she had been using the city's credit card for personal use. She had been using the credit card since 2007, mostly in connection with a basketball team on which her daughters played.

She was arrested the next month and accused with making more than $15,000 in American Express charges.

In April, auditors hired by the city found that more than $215,000 had disappeared in the last year Ryan headed the finance department.

"Over the course of this investigation, staff discovered more than one year's worth of recreation and utility deposits that Ms. Ryan had no reason to touch,'' Spoor said. "However, these deposits were altered with checks being added and cash stolen. New deposit slips were created by Ms. Ryan unbeknownst to her very staff members who were responsible for completing the original deposit slips.

"This same act occurred multiple times each and every month. This was not a one-time lapse in judgment.''

Dr. Walter Afield, a neuropsychiatrist, testified that due to her breast cancer treatments, Ryan suffered from a condition known as chemo brain, which affects memory, concentration and focus.

"Her judgment was markedly impaired,'' he said. "She showed clear evidence of brain dysfunction.''

But City Commissioner Mary Lynda Williams, also a breast cancer survivor, expressed another view in earlier testimony.

"Did I have chemo brain? You betcha," she said. "But never once was I tempted to embezzle from my employer. Chemo brain has nothing to do with thought process or morals."

Afield also told the court that Ryan had major depression and was suicidal.

But when Assistant State Attorney Gregory Groger asked Afield if Ryan knew right from wrong, Afield said "yes.''

Next up was Ryan's husband of 26 years, Tim Ryan.

He said during Ryan's treatment, she "wasn't competent doing her job.'' However, he said "there's nobody in this courtroom, not me, not JoAnne, that thinks this is an excuse.'

"Your honor, I know what she did was wrong,'' he said. "I know it has changed our lives forever. One of the most ironic aspects of this … money has never been a motivating factor in our lives. Your honor, please don't take her from me. Don't make my children victims of this crime.''

When Ryan made her statement to the court, she said she never thought in a million years she would "be in this position'' and that facing her children was the hardest part.

She turned and addressed Spoor, Mayor Andy Steingold and Williams.

"I can't put into words how sorry I am this has happened,'' she said. "I hope someday you'll find it in your heart to forgive me. I feel disgraced. It's reprehensible. It will haunt me for the rest of my life.''

Eileen Schulte can be reached at schulte@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4153.