TO: MEDIA
FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: FEBRUARY 14, 2012
RE: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V MATTHEWS
On February 14, 2012 Timothy Matthews, former detective lieutenant of the Kingston Police Department, pled guilty to two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. In his plea to the first count of the indictment Matthews admitted that between January 1, 2001 and February 3, 2011 he stole more than $50,000.00 from the City of Kingston. In the second count, Matthews admitted that between the dates of March 1, 2007 and December 31, 2010 he stole more than $50,000.00 from the County of Ulster.
The plea was taken before acting County Court Judge Andrew Ceresia. Following his plea, Matthews was sentenced to three to nine years in state prison on each of the Grand Larceny charges, said sentences to run concurrently. In addition, Judge Ceresia ordered the defendant to pay $212,000.00 in restitution. There were three victims to these thefts, the City of Kingston, the County of Ulster, and Ulster Savings Bank. All told, Matthews stole $122,000.00 from the City, $80,000.00 from the County, and the Ulster Savings Bank was bilked for approximately $10,000.00.
“I am mindful of Mr. Matthews record of service. In contrast, Matthews’ actions were a breach of trust both to the public and to the men and women who serve with him. Matthews conviction is a stain not only on his reputation but also on the two organizations, the Kingston Police Department and URGENT Task Force, which have served our community with distinction”.
“On balance I felt a recommendation of sentence that would call only for the repayment of the sums stolen is not an appropriate sentence and we recommended three to nine years in State Prison” stated District Attorney Holley Carnright.
At the time of Matthews’ plea and sentencing he had no assets with which to pay restitution. As a condition of the order of restitution the District Attorney drafted an agreement that Matthews’ vested pension interest will be applied toward the amount of restitution above referenced. At sentencing Matthews’ attorney, Michael Kavanagh, submitted to the Court that given Matthews career in law enforcement and his remorse that a sentence of six months in the Ulster County Jail and five months probation would be appropriate.
In his comments to Judge Ceresia Matthews apologized to his family, the Kingston Police Department, members of the law enforcement community in Ulster County and the citizens of Ulster County. Matthews acknowledged that in his judgment police officers should be held to a higher standard. He accepted his responsibility stating, what I did was wrong, and I deserve to go to jail.
In taking full responsibility for his actions Matthews did not indicate that any other members of the police department nor the URGENT Task Force were complicit in his thefts.
The case broke in January of 2010 as a result of an audit conducted by the State Comptroller regarding the Kingston School District and discrepancies in records of payments to Matthews, who worked there as security. As a result of that information, Matthews was suspended with pay by the then Chief of Police, Gerald Keller. Following Matthews’ suspension, information came to light that monies kept in a safe in Matthews’ office were missing. The case was then referred to the District Attorney’s Office who conducted a full audit of monies that Matthews had access to in both the Kingston Police Department and the URGENT Task Force. In addition, the office investigated Matthews’ earnings in his employment as security for the Ulster Savings Bank.
