A former Savannah Morning News employee today pleaded guilty to stealing more than $30,000 from his employer over a 10 month period.
In return for his plea, John Michael McGettigan, 54, received a 10-year, probated sentence with restitution to the newspaper of $31,031.33.
If all the terms of his probation are met – including full restitution - in three years, his probation supervision will end, Chatham County Superior Court Judge James F. Bass Jr. ruled.
McGettigan was charged with theft by taking between June 11, 2007, and April 21, 2008, and computer forgery by using a computer to manipulate invoices from kiosk sales of the Savannah Morning News and sending the money to First Brookstone Management – a company run by his wife - between Oct. 9, 2006, and July 14, 2008.\
His wife was not charged.
McGettigan’s scheme was uncovered during an internal audit and he left the company.