33-month sentence for ex-cop who stole from fallen officers fund
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TACOMA, Wash. - An ex-Lakewood police officer who stole thousands of dollars from a fund for families of four slain officers was sentenced Friday to nearly three years in prison and ordered to repay the entire embezzled amount.
The 33-month sentence comes after the former officer, Skeeter Timothy Manos, pleaded guilty in March to federal wire fraud charges in the case.
Under a plea agreement with Manos, prosecutors had recommended a prison term of about two years. U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan could have sentenced him to as much as 20 years, but decided on a lesser sentence that was still longer than prosecutors' recommendation.
Just before hearing his sentence, Manos told the judge, "No question, I'm sorry. I've dishonored everyone I've liked or loved. Dishonored my profession. I reopened wounds (of the Lakewood widows). My kids looked up to me as a hero. I'm not that. I'm sorry, that's all I can say."
Prosecutors say Manos, 34, of Dupont had started embezzling from the guild account in 2009 before he was put in charge of the families' fund, taking $112,000 in total. He also embezzled $47,000 from the guild itself. He spent the stolen money on Las Vegas gambling trips and shopping sprees at Costco and Home Depot. Manos was fired after he was charged.
The embezzled funds were a part of the $3.2 million contributed for the benefit of the widows and families of Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards, who were gunned down at a coffee shop in November 2009.
The officers were shot to death by convict Maurice Clemmons at a coffee shop while they were beginning their shifts. Clemmons fled the scene, sparking a statewide manhunt that ended when a Seattle police officer shot and killed him two days later.
In the weeks following the fatal shooting, Manos posted a note on the guild's website expressing his gratitude to the public for the outpouring of support.
"Words alone cannot begin to describe how much donating means to not only the fallen officer's families, but to each and every Lakewood Officer. The comments that are sent along with each donation are personally read by me. Many times I have had to stop and recompose myself, because of the overwhelming support and compassion displayed by the generous community supporting us during this difficult period," he wrote. "Please continue to support our fallen officers and their families by donating anything that you can."
But behind those words lurked a hidden motive. Documents show Manos began scheming to divert the money just seven weeks after the Nov. 29, 2009 shooting.
"We're angry," said Sgt. John Unfred with Lakewood Police. "We're still angry."
Maons' defense attorney claimed the former Marine suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, causing him to do self-destructive things with no ability to withstand temptation.
The Lakewood officers aren't buying it.
"For him to come in here and claim that all this crap that he stole and spent money on is because he has PTSD is just that, it's a bunch of crap," Unfred said. "And it doesn't sit well with us."
The judge didn't buy it either sentencing Manos to the high end of the agreed upon sentencing range.
Manos doesn't have to report to federal prison right away, he can have a little time with his family. But he does have to come up with the $159,000 now, and the judge ordered him to cash in his retirement to do so.
Manos was hired by the Lakewood Police Department in 2004 after working as a state trooper for a year.
The 33-month sentence comes after the former officer, Skeeter Timothy Manos, pleaded guilty in March to federal wire fraud charges in the case.
Under a plea agreement with Manos, prosecutors had recommended a prison term of about two years. U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan could have sentenced him to as much as 20 years, but decided on a lesser sentence that was still longer than prosecutors' recommendation.
Just before hearing his sentence, Manos told the judge, "No question, I'm sorry. I've dishonored everyone I've liked or loved. Dishonored my profession. I reopened wounds (of the Lakewood widows). My kids looked up to me as a hero. I'm not that. I'm sorry, that's all I can say."
Prosecutors say Manos, 34, of Dupont had started embezzling from the guild account in 2009 before he was put in charge of the families' fund, taking $112,000 in total. He also embezzled $47,000 from the guild itself. He spent the stolen money on Las Vegas gambling trips and shopping sprees at Costco and Home Depot. Manos was fired after he was charged.
The embezzled funds were a part of the $3.2 million contributed for the benefit of the widows and families of Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards, who were gunned down at a coffee shop in November 2009.
The officers were shot to death by convict Maurice Clemmons at a coffee shop while they were beginning their shifts. Clemmons fled the scene, sparking a statewide manhunt that ended when a Seattle police officer shot and killed him two days later.
In the weeks following the fatal shooting, Manos posted a note on the guild's website expressing his gratitude to the public for the outpouring of support.
"Words alone cannot begin to describe how much donating means to not only the fallen officer's families, but to each and every Lakewood Officer. The comments that are sent along with each donation are personally read by me. Many times I have had to stop and recompose myself, because of the overwhelming support and compassion displayed by the generous community supporting us during this difficult period," he wrote. "Please continue to support our fallen officers and their families by donating anything that you can."
But behind those words lurked a hidden motive. Documents show Manos began scheming to divert the money just seven weeks after the Nov. 29, 2009 shooting.
"We're angry," said Sgt. John Unfred with Lakewood Police. "We're still angry."
Maons' defense attorney claimed the former Marine suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, causing him to do self-destructive things with no ability to withstand temptation.
The Lakewood officers aren't buying it.
"For him to come in here and claim that all this crap that he stole and spent money on is because he has PTSD is just that, it's a bunch of crap," Unfred said. "And it doesn't sit well with us."
The judge didn't buy it either sentencing Manos to the high end of the agreed upon sentencing range.
Manos doesn't have to report to federal prison right away, he can have a little time with his family. But he does have to come up with the $159,000 now, and the judge ordered him to cash in his retirement to do so.
Manos was hired by the Lakewood Police Department in 2004 after working as a state trooper for a year.
