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School district’s computer consultant pleads guilty to 400 laptop thefts

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer 6:58 PM Wednesday, February 8, 2012

HAMILTON — The former Middletown City Schools consultant who stole and sold $77,034 worth of computers from the district faces a possible 18-month prison term.

Larry Osborne, Jr., 29, of Somerville, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging him with one fourth-degree felony count of grand theft.

Osborne was charged with the thefts — which began in 2008 — in Middletown Municipal Court on Nov. 9. A bill of information is a written accusation of a criminal act and is used in place of a grand jury indictment.

Osborne, a computer technician, was contracted to do work in the school district by the Butler County Educational Service Center. He stole 400 laptops and sold them on eBay to a minister in Pennsylvania. The Middletown police recovered 46 of the machines.

Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Sage will sentence Osborne on March 14 and he remains free on his own recognizance.

Assistant Prosecutor Susan Schultz said he could spend a maximum of 18 months in prison. Neither the school district nor police wanted to comment on the case while it is pending in the court.

Osborne’s attorney could not be reached for comment.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.

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