Trial put off to August in Packo's theft case

Former co-owner, controller accused

5/9/2012

A new trial date was scheduled Tuesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court for Tony Packo III, who is criminally charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the restaurant company that his grandfather founded.

Judge Frederick McDonald set an Aug. 13 trial date for Mr. Packo and Cathleen Dooley, the company's controller. Each is charged with three alternate counts of aggravated theft and faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

The pair appeared in court Tuesday for a pretrial hearing scheduled at the court's request. Judge McDonald said the previously set June 18 trial date conflicted with the court's schedule.

Mr. Packo, 39, and Ms. Dooley, 46, are each charged with stealing thousands of dollars from Tony Packo's Inc. over a four-year period between January, 2006, and February, 2010. The combined total stolen was about $170,000, authorities said.

Mr. Packo and Ms. Dooley were indicted by a grand jury Dec. 14. They have remained free on recognizance bonds set at their Jan. 3 arraignments.

The charges were the result of a lengthy investigation by an investigator in the prosecutor's office.

Authorities said that allegations were brought to the prosecutor's office by the attorney of former co-owner Robin Horvath, who is a cousin of Mr. Packo and at the time owned half of the business.

In February, the company was sold to businessman Bob Bennett of TP Foods LLC after being placed into receivership for more than a year.

Assistant County Prosecutor Kevin Pituch said in court Tuesday that there were recorded interviews of witnesses in the case that were not yet in his possession and so not yet handed over to the defense. He said that once these recordings are turned over, that should conclude the delivery to the defense of the state's evidence. It includes thousands of documents plus recorded interviews.