Former Charlack police chief sentenced to probation for stealing city money
December 19, 2014
By Ken Leiser

CLAYTON - A judge here sentenced former Charlack Police Chief Anthony Umbertino on Friday to five years on probation for stealing from the city.

Umbertino, of Moscow Mills, was a central character in a lengthy dispute over finances, credit card purchases and politics in the north St. Louis County community of 1,400 residents. In September 2012, two months after the Board of Aldermen voted to fire him, a Missouri Highway Patrol investigation led to his indictment.

Records produced in court in Clayton showed city credit card charges of $37,968 by Umbertino and $17,018 by former Mayor James Beekman, an ally of Umbertino before they became adversaries.

Beekman, who resigned from office in October 2011 after the state investigation had begun, pleaded guilty last year of felony stealing and was given five years on probation.

A St. Louis County jury convicted Umbertino last month after deliberating about three hours. Circuit Court Judge Michael D. Burton had dismissed two corruption charges earlier in the trial.

Burton ordered Umbertino to serve 120 days of "shock" time behind bars and a five-year prison term that will be suspended if he meets the terms of his probation.

Defense lawyer David J. Gregory said his client had paid $20,562.78 restitution by cashier’s check.

Umbertino was the city’s chief from 1997 to 2004 and returned to the job three years later, serving also as city administrator.

After the charges against Beekman and Umbertino, the city stopped having a credit card account that could be used by its officials, and began paying off the debt.

Pastor Mark Hoehner of Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, in St. Peters, appeared Friday as a character witness. He said Umbertino had been a man of faith and “an outstanding citizen of our congregation.”

Defense lawyers said Umbertino had no prior criminal record and had served as a homicide detective on the Major Case Squad. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Bart Calhoun said the police career was a reason to hold Umbertino to a higher standard.

An unrelated case against Umbertino, alleging financial exploitation of an elderly woman from Florida, is pending.