Former Binghamton Employee Sentenced To Jail

A former long-time director of the Binghamton parks and recreation department has been ordered to serve jail time for stealing thousands of dollars in city funds.

73-year-old John Whalen was sentenced Wednesday to serve weekends in Broome County Jail for nine months. Whalen apologized during a court appearance before Judge Joseph Cawley.

Whalen worked for the city for nearly four decades. In late 2012, he was forced to resign when officials discovered he apparently had been stealing cash fees that had been collected for recreational programs.

Whalen pleaded guilty to grand larceny last spring. He had faced a possible prison sentence if he failed to pay more than $79,000 in restitution.

An audit conducted by the state comptroller's office that was released last October contended Whalen stole almost $108,000.