THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 6, 2023 Page 3 Former Selectman Mitchell goes to jail for stealing $1.3 million from nonprofit school By Mark E. Vogler E x-Saugus Selectman Mark D. Mitchell will serve up to 18 months in the House of Correction after pleading guilty to his role in a $1.3 million embezzlement scheme while working as comptroller at the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE). Mitchell, 53, was scheduled to go to trial this month, but accepted a plea agreement last week, admitting to the 18 criminal charges that a Suffolk County grand jury indicted him on four years ago: five counts of larceny by scheme, six counts of improper campaign expenditures, three counts of forgery, three counts of false entries in corporate books and one count UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Then-Saugus Selectman Mark Mitchell stared ahead during his arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court, shortly after his indictment in July of 2019 for embezzling $1.3 million from the Boston Center for Adult Education (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) FACING JAIL TIME: Mark D. Mitchell, a former Saugus selectman and comptroller of the Boston Center for Adult Education, could serve up to 18 months in jail and will be ordered to pay a yet-to-be-determined restitution after pleading guilty to his involvement in a $1.3-million embezzlement scheme. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) of publishing false or exaggerated statements. “The scope of this scheme is made more contemptible when one considers the organization it victimized – an organization that has provided educational benefits to tens of thousands of adults since it was founded nearly a century ago,” District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement this week. “This calculated theft struck at the heart of the BCAE’s ability to do what it does so well and has done for so long. Mr. Mitchell’s plea is only the beginning of the reparations that are justified in this shameful breach of fiduciary and civic trust,” Hayden said. Hayden’s office sought a prison sentence of three to four years. Attorney Carmine Lepore, who represented Mitchell in recent months, sought a suspended jail sentence, noting that he had no prior record and has heart issues. A suspended jail sentence means Mitchell would only spend time behind bars if he were to reoffend or violate other terms of an agreement, as well as having to pay 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Private Parties Private Parties 4-7 p.m. $9.00 12-9 p.m. 7:30-11 p.m. $10. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com restitution. Judge Michael Doolin sentenced Mitchell to serve three years of probation upon his release from the Suffolk County House of Correction at South JAIL | SEE PAGE 9
4 Publizr Home