ORANGE — A local woman has been ordered to repay about 65 percent of the more than $27,000 police say she confessed to stealing from an area nonprofit group when she worked as its treasurer.

Lisa A. Sargent, 52, of 91 Regan St., was in Orange District Court for a pretrial conference Monday and admitted to sufficient facts after pleading not guilty to one charge of larceny over $250 in May. She is accused of depleting the Central Massachusetts Steam, Gas & Machinery Association checking account she was entrusted with overseeing. The association puts on the annual Yankee Engine-uity Show at the Orange Municipal Airport. Sargent was ordered to pay $18,277.77 in restitution.

She is due in court on Dec. 27 for a status review of payments. The case was continued without finding until Sept. 17, 2021.

According to a police report, Officer Christopher Bisceglia spoke with club President Stephen Upham and Vice President Grover Ballou on March 21 and learned the association rents a building from the airport. Upham said he got a phone call asking why the club did not pay its rent for February. He told Bisceglia he found out the checking account was overdrawn, though the most recent treasurer’s report from Sargent in October 2015 revealed a $28,744.47 balance.

Upham said only he, Ballou and Sargent had access to the account. He also said Sargent had two days earlier texted him to say she was resigning her position, effective immediately. Upham said he tried unsuccessfully to get the association’s check book from Sargent, though Sargent’s ex-husband — who is also an association member — eventually retrieved it.

Sargent told Bisceglia she had been a member for about five years. She also said she has been addicted to prescription drugs for about a year and a half, around the time she became the association’s treasurer. According to the police report, she said she used the association’s money to fund her drug habit and for other purchases.

According to the association’s website, Ballou now serves as its treasurer.

You can reach Domenic Poli at:
dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli