Former Police Officer Will Spend Six Months In Jail

Rome, NY (WIBX) - A former Rome Police Officer who pleaded guilty to grand larceny will have to pay restitution to the state pension fund and serve six months in the county jail.

After retiring from the force, Thomas Hubal went to the work for the Rome City School District as a security guard, according to Oneida County Assitant District Attorney Michael Nolan.

Hubal failed to properly notify the state pension fund of his new job, as required for ex-municipal workers with a pension, Nolan said. While Hubal made an initial notificiation, he did not seek a waiver allowing him to work for the district.

There are different requirments for retired municipal workers with a pension when they go to work for a private entity and when they work another municipal job, Nolan said. The result was Hubal improperly receiving $88,000 in pension benefits, Nolan said.

Hubal has paid back $15,000, and the remaining $73,000 in restitution will come from his monthly pension check. Each month, $1,000 from his pension will be withheld until the money is paid back in full, Nolan said.

Hubal will report to the Oneida County Jail from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week for the duration of his six month sentence. This will allow him to still care for his wife, who needs his assistance due to a medical issue, Nolan said.