Mass. school employee stole food, supplies for his Cape Cod snack shack, authorities say
Patrick VanCott, 62, of Sandwich pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Plymouth District Court on Friday. His charges include larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme, larceny from a building and larceny under $1,200 by a single scheme.
He was ordered held on a $50,000 cash bail and to stay away from all Plymouth school campuses and school storage facilities. He's been placed on administrative leave, according to officials.
A superior court judge lowered his cash bail to $10,000 after his attorney petitioned for a bail review on Friday, court records show. He posted the bail and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor upon his release.
'People should be reminded that folks are innocent until proven guilty and we are going to vigorously defend this case,' Nate Amendola, an attorney for VanCott, said on Sunday.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz's Office said public school officials contacted the police after they received an anonymous letter 'alleging criminal activity' at the Plymouth Community Intermediate School.
'The letter alleged that a person has been stealing commercial equipment and food products from the school,' officials said.
The property is owned by the town and paid for with federal dollars, officials said.
VanCott, the director of food services for Plymouth public schools, was identified as the suspect after a police investigation.
He is the only person with the authority to place orders for the cafeteria, officials said.
VanCott also runs a snack shack at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, officials said.
His orders consisted of premium Angus hamburgers, hot dogs, lobster meat, and other food products that were not served to students or school staff, officials said.
Surveillance footage shows VanCott taking two commercial refrigerators from the school and onto his truck in April, officials said.
Police reviewed cafeteria financial documents and compiled a list of items purchased by VanCott but not currently in the public schools' storage facility that totaled over $8,300 in goods, including:
Refrigerated sandwich table: $1,700
2 frying pans: $96
Convection oven: $850
Undercounter freezer: $1,700
Microwave: $299
Bagel warmer: $294
Cuisinart coffee maker: $84
In June, police executed a search warrant at the snack shack and found an industrial-sized refrigerator and other kitchen equipment and 'government-issued' food.
VanCott was taken into custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 21.
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