Former business manager jailed for stealing from White Oak animal shelter

Franklin Sabolcik went to court Monday morning with a $3,000 check in hand to pay toward the restitution he owes from stealing from the White Oak Animal Safe Haven when he worked as a vice president and business manager there.

He told Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court that he has been sober for three years and is working to learn the plumbing business from his 86- year-old grandfather to take over the operation someday.

And he said he was sorry for taking nearly $22,000 from the no-kill shelter and using it to buy gifts for his former girlfriend and take ski trips.

But in his pre-sentence interview, Sabolcik denied any wrongdoing. Instead, he blamed his criminal prosecution on a political vendetta by the shelter’s president and founder, Ina Jean Marton.

And after the judge sentenced him to 11½ to 23 months in jail, Sabolcik blamed his circumstances on the court and called Ms. Marton a “devil.”

“We’re going to lose everything,” he shouted as he was being led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. “My family’s going to be destitute. I’m begging. My grandfather is 86 years old. Your honor, please help me. My grandfather’s going to die.”

Judge Sasinoski ordered the defendant be returned before him. He allowed Sabolcik of Elizabeth Township to continue pleading with him for house arrest or electronic monitoring for several seconds. The judge let him finish but ignored his requests, finally suggesting Sabolcik reflect on his own actions.

“If they have a mirror down there, you should take a good long look,” Judge Sasinoski said. “Now, you’re visiting this on your parents, your grandfather? You should have thought of that when you dipped in the coffers of [the shelter].”

Sabolcik, 34, was found guilty by a jury in February of theft and receiving stolen property from the shelter in 2011. Prosecutors presented evidence that Sabolcik stole the money from the shelter and used it to buy gifts, meals and trips for his former girlfriend.

At the time he committed those crimes, Sabolcik was already on probation for driving under the influence. Included in the allegations in the animal shelter case were that he violated that probation by driving without a license and drinking alcohol.