FOOD PANTRY THEFT RESOLVED

Bourbon-Parme

‘Convicted Felon

For Rest Of Life’

By JAMES CUMMINGS • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – “From this day forward, you are a convicted felon and will be for the rest of your life.”

That was what county Judge Brian D. Burns told Antoine Bourbon-Parme, 59, as he was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge on a charge of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a Class U felony, for embezzling more than $18,000 from the Cooperstown Food Pantry.  He was arrested last April 2.

“You took advantage of the organization’s trust and the public’s trust of that organization. Beyond that, you stole from some of the most needy and vulnerable members of our community,” said Burns.

“Literally stealing the money that would go to run a food pantry. It’s difficult to put into words your selfishness,” the judge said. ““We don’t know how far the ripples of your dishonesty will go in time.”

And Burns emphasized that the sentence did not necessarily match the deed.