SCRANTON — James Olecki, the former CEO of the Ritz Theater who was accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the business, has accepted an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) instead of going to trial, according to the Times Leader’s newsgathering partners at 28/22 News.
“Finally, after 20 months, I feel vindicated by the outcome in this case,” Olecki said in a release provided to 28/22 News. “From day one, I have maintained that I did not steal from The Ritz Theater and my decision to accept ARD does not change that.”
Ritz Theater owner and Olecki’s former business partner Josh Balz, in a statement to the Times Leader, also said his team considers the outcome a “victory” and is “extremely happy to finally put this chapter behind us.”
“We stood our ground from day one, trusted the process, and are incredibly appreciative of the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office and court system for seeing this matter through.
“Regardless of how the resolution may be characterized publicly, statements made after the fact do not rewrite the circumstances that brought this matter before the criminal justice system in the first place. Choosing a path that avoids taking the case to trial does not change that.”
According to the Lackawanna County Clerk of Courts, Olecki submitted no plea, and took ARD, which allows the incident to be removed from his record and he makes no repayments.
Balz, however, said in his statement he intends to “continue pursuing the civil case to seek appropriate recovery for the financial damages suffered” and “additional damages.”
Olecki, on the other hand, said in his release he would be filing complaints against Balz and Linell Homentosky, after he said he received “misguided reputational abuse” since he was charged.