From the day he first was accused of misspending taxpayer money, Thomas Bryant Creasman has insisted he did nothing wrong.
Even Wednesday, as he begged for a lenient sentence, the former head of the Cincinnati golf division suggested he was the victim of a politically motivated prosecution.
"I am not sure exactly of what, quite frankly, I have been accused of doing," he said as he stood before a packed Hamilton County courtroom. "If I did anything improper, I apologize."
His words and attitude did not sit well with Common Pleas Judge Steven Martin, who quickly reminded Mr. Creasman that jurors found him guilty of five felony crimes: theft in office, having an unlawful interest in a public contract, and three counts of tampering with records for forging payment vouchers.
"Despite what you believe, these are not trivial offenses," Judge Martin said. "These are not small things. You have deprived the city of thousands of dollars. And for that, you must pay."
Mr. Creasman, 51, of Anderson Township was sentenced to two years in prison. He also was ordered to repay more than $6,700 - the amount he cost the city.
As the sentence was read, Mr. Creasman's three daughters covered their faces with their hands. They began sobbing when their father was handcuffed and taken into custody by deputy sheriffs.
Before the sentence was imposed, several family friends spoke on Mr. Creasman's behalf. They described him as a broken, embarrassed man who was, for a time, suicidal because of the allegations. They said he needed to be with his family and help pay off the massive debts he accumulated in waging his defense.
Judge Martin was not swayed.
"Taxpayer money is sacred, and I don't know that you understand that," he said. "But you'll have some time to think about it." In addition to filing an appeal, the defense will ask Judge Martin to grant Mr. Creasman shock probation in 30 days.
Though Mr. Creasman gained only $571 - the amount made by his wife's company, which bought bells for a golf course - he cost the city much more by faking vouchers and diverting money, prosecutors said.
