ITHACA, N.Y. – An Ithaca man was sentenced Friday morning in Tompkins County Court regarding a theft that took place on August 6, 2016 at the Cornell University Store.
Nicholas Bennedum, 34, was accused of stealing a large amount of cash from the store’s vault and was later arrested by Cornell University Police. Bennedum was the Assistant Manager of the store at the time, and closed and locked the store around 6:30 p.m. the night of the crime. After closing, he returned and spray painted the store’s surveillance cameras where he proceeded to open the vault in the store and stole approximately $39,000 in cash, according to police.
Bennedum originally pleaded guilty to third- degree grand larceny in March. Attorneys discussed a withdrawal of the plea and revisited the case in court on Friday. Assistant District Attorney, Alyxandra Stanczak suggested that with a withdrawal off the plea, Bennedum would plead guilty to petit larceny.
“He is working almost full time as a cook downtown and going to TC3 full time,” said Russel Maines, Bennedum’s Attorney. “I think these are moves in the right direction.”
Stanczak mentioned Bennedum’s struggle with his gambling addiction to which Maines responded that Bennedum has been enrolled in Gamblers Anonymous and was in regular contact with his probation officer.
Bennedum pleaded guilty to petit larceny and has been sentenced to three years of probation, as orders of Judge Joseph R. Cassidy.