Andy Brady Sentenced in Newark

Former South Orange Recreation Director Andy Brady was sentenced to two years probation, 100 hours of community service and payment of $1,113 in restitution, after pleading guilty to theft charges, according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Brandon Minde. Brady, a 43-year South Orange employee, pled guilty in May to a third-degree charge of "failure to make required payments."

Brady was charged with alleged theft for failing to deposit $1,113 in cash that was raised during a series of rock concerts at The Baird. The charges alleged that he oversaw five concerts put on by the local music collective Rock the House on March 20, April 24, June 13, Oct. 23 and Dec. 24, 2009, and was supposed to turn over half of the door receipts to the Baird; however, he allegedly never deposited them into South Orange's coffers.

The sentencing ends a months-long saga that began with Brady's sudden retirement in January. In February, Brady, 60, turned himself in at South Orange police headquarters for the alleged offense of theft. The investigation was conducted by the South Orange Police Department's Detective Bureau, New Jersey State Police and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office

The alleged thefts constituted a third-degree offense with the possibility of a three- to five-year prison term.

According to Andrew Pratt, a spokesman for the state Department of Treasury, which includes the Division of Pensions and Benefits, steps are typically taken to deny pensions to public employees convicted of felonies that affect their jobs, though they can take out whatever funds they put in.

Brady has not yet applied for his pension. He earned $94,500 in 2009.