Caito must serve 60 days in jail starting today.
Earlier during Friday’s hearing, the judge read a letter from the FOP president saying the theft left them with 47 cents in their account, cost them members and trust in community.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
EARLIER REPORT
Joseph Caito III is a decorated Army veteran who served in Iraq, comes from a law enforcement family and is “deeply sorry” for taking more than $92,000 from his police union, according to a sentencing memorandum filed by his attorney.
Caito, 35, a former Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy and union treasurer, pleaded guilty in December to fourth-degree felony grand theft from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 104.
Caito is scheduled to be sentenced this morning by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Dennis Langer.
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Defense attorney Frank Malocu wrote that Caito — a K-9 handler — made full restitution of $92,148.21 to the lodge by liquidating his pension.
The attorney wrote that Caito has a wife who had filed for divorce but is now attempting reconciliation and four children, some who have struggled with the attention from Caito’s case.
“Due to his actions, he lost a wonderful career, pension, dog, reputation and almost his family,” Malcou wrote, adding that “Caito is an excellent candidate for Community Control Sanctions.”
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The memo said Caito grew up in Hamilton and Middletown and has three siblings all in law enforcement — a brother with the Middletown police, a brother with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and a sister who dispatches for Warren County.
Caito served in the Army from 1999 until 2006 and earned eight medals during a 17-month deployment in Iraq, Malcou wrote.
After that, he worked for the sheriff’s office and was promoted up the ranks to K-9 services in 2012 and a task force officer in 2014. His K-9 officer lived with him for four years and became close to his family before “Gunner” was reassigned, Malocu wrote.
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Caito’s wife had serious medical issues starting in 2012 and he became the FOP’s treasurer in 2014.
“Due to his continued financial pressure, he took the money from the account,” Malocu wrote. “Although his intention was to replace it, the situation was beyond his control and the money was not replaced.”
Caito’s thefts continued until Aug. 26, 2016 when officials found “discrepancies in the books” at the lodge. Caito was placed on paid administrative leave pending investigations and resigned Dec. 12, 2016, according to Sheriff Phil Plummer.
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Malocu wrote that Caito has no history of alcohol or substance abuse and has a job lined up depending on his sentence. He said his client is “truly remorseful” and that he “violated the trust of the Lodge and his family and he is deeply sorry for what he did.”