Ex-club manager released from jail
The former manager of a Centerville country club was released Friday from Washington County jail after his attorney asked a judge to reduce his bond.
Brian Lee Simon, 35, of 1910 Jefferson Ave., Canton Township, was arrested Wednesday by state police on 168 counts of forgery, 11 counts of identity theft and one count each of theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
At the time of his arraignment, District Judge Joshua Kanalis set bond at $529,647, which was the amount of the alleged theft from Nemacolin Country Club. Judge John DiSalle amended the bond Friday to a $250,000 percentage bond. Simon was released after $25,000 was posted on his behalf.
Simon, the former manager of the country club on Route 40, is accused of stealing more than half-million dollars between January 2007 and March.
The country club board noticed losses and discovered that checks were issued that were not supported by bona fide documents, Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone said last week. The club board hired a private investigator to look into the financial loss. The investigator determined the money was embezzled by Simon through the use of company checks.
This was not Simon’s first arrest for allegedly stealing money. Simon, formerly of North Strabane Township, was arrested in May by Canonsburg police for allegedly stealing more than $16,000 from the South Central Elementary School PTA in the Canon-McMillan School District. The money has been repaid to the organization but the charges against Simon are proceeding, said Canonsburg police Sgt. Al Coghill. Simon, who had been treasurer of the PTA, is currently awaiting trial before DiSalle on charges of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and theft.
A preliminary hearing on the most recent theft charges is set for Jan. 24 before Kanalis.