Ex-Glens Falls hospice official admits to stealing checks from woman

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tatiana Zarnowski

A Queensbury man who admitted to stealing from a Glens Falls hospice pleaded guilty Monday in Saratoga County Court to attempted criminal possession of a forged instrument in another case.

Robert H. Spratt, 44, was charged in August in Moreau with stealing checks from a female acquaintance, forging them and obtaining money from her account. The events happened between September 2011 and June 2012, authorities said.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 26.

Spratt pleaded guilty June 5 to fourth-degree grand larceny in Warren County for the 2012 thefts from House of Grace of the Adirondacks. At his sentencing July 17 he is expected to get six months in the county jail and five years’ probation and be ordered to pay $23,988 in restitution to the insurance company that reimbursed House of Grace for its loss.

Spratt worked at the nonprofit hospice as director of outreach, where he spent his own money on fundraising initiatives and then was reimbursed, said Saratoga County Assistant District Attorney Kristin Foust, who is serving as special prosecutor in the case because Spratt’s community involvement in Warren County could create a conflict of interest for the Warren County District Attorney’s Office.

Spratt inflated the reimbursement requests to the hospice and was paid more than he spent, she said.

Also this week in Saratoga County Court:

• Lisa Warenda, 27, of Troy, pleaded guilty Wednesday to driving drunk in December in Waterford and was placed on interim probation to include Drug Treatment Court.

• William Tobin, 54, of 14W Harrison St., Saratoga Springs, pleaded guilty to four counts each of felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He faces sentencing in August. Tobin was arrested in April on charges out of Saratoga Springs dating from June 2011 through August 2011.

• Kip Asmus, 30, of 3406 State St., Schenectady, was sentenced Tuesday to time served, five years’ probation and a $1,000 fine for driving drunk in January in Clifton Park.

• Donald J. Koenig, 42, of 354 Ruggles Road, Apt. 7, Wilton, pleaded guilty Tuesday to committing third-degree burglary in late April or early May in Clifton Park. He faces sentencing in August.

• Marlin C. Turner, 29, of New York City, pleaded guilty Monday to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was charged in Saratoga Springs in August.

• William R. Johnson, 44, of 79 Johnson Road, Mechanicville, was sentenced Tuesday to five years’ probation and a $500 fine for felony aggravated unlicensed operation and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, crimes committed in January in Mechanicville.

• Douglas E. Loya, 52, of Glens Falls, was sentenced Monday to five years’ probation and ordered to pay $8,600 in restitution for committing third-degree grand larceny in 2009 in Malta.

• Michael G. “Tony” Brown, 44, of 1749 Albany St., Schenectady, was sentenced Monday to two years in prison and two years of post-release supervision concurrent with a Schenectady County sentence. He was charged in January with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.