Noah Johnson Daily Press Todd Anthony Holland listens to 47th Circuit Court Judge John Economopoulos during his sentencing on Monday.

ESCANABA — A local volunteer fire department’s former treasurer was sentenced to jail in Delta County District Court on Monday for embezzling thousands of dollars.

Todd Anthony Holland, the former secretary-treasurer of the Ford River Township Volunteer Fire Department, was sentenced to three months in jail on a charge of embezzlement of $20,000 or more but less than $50,000.

The charge stems from his actions as secretary-treasurer when he embezzled $70,000 from the department.

Court records indicate that Holland’s embezzlement occurred between Jan. 1, 2019, and June 2, 2024.

Holland previously plead guilty to the charge in March as part of an agreement with the prosecution.

He was originally charged with embezzlement – $50,000 or more but less than $100,000 during his initial arraignment, but the prosecution added a count of embezzlement of $20,000 or more but less than $50,000, as well a requirement that the full amount of restitution, $70,000, be paid by the time of sentencing. As part of the agreement, the original count was dismissed.

As of Monday, Holland paid the full $70,000 in restitution.

Delta County Prosecutor Lauren Wickman referenced a witness statement drafted by Ford River Township Volunteer Fire Department Brian Nelson, which said Hollands’ actions had a significant impact on the department that will go on for years.

“Not really the fact that the money was missing, but how the department (will) actually function moving forward. Mr. Nelson highlights specifically the trust that was also broken by the defendants, the defendant’s actions throughout this, and how, in their line of of work and their roles as volunteer fire department they, need to have the trust of the people who have their back,” Wickman said.

Defense Attorney Diane Kay-Hougaboom said Holland was very apologetic for his actions.

“I would note on behalf of my client that he is very apologetic to the court and the community for what happened,” she said.

She added Holland had very little criminal history and is a senior citizen.

“He was in a place of desperation in his life at the time the events took place and made a very bad choice, which he admits was a very bad choice,” Kay-Hougaboom said.

According to Kay-Hougaboom, Holland was facing treatment for a very serious illness and had very serious medical bills when he made the “wrong choice” to embezzle from the department.

47th Circuit Court Judge John Economopoulos asked Holland if he would like to say anything to court.

Holland said he screwed up and he was sorry.

“For that, I’m sorry, I have to live the rest of my life with it,” Holland said.

Economopoulos called the nature of the offense gut-wrenching as the victim is an organization that provides a life-saving service to the public.

“This one stings, and it stings particularly because of how it’s set the organization back and put them back into the…. under the thumb essentially of the township as it was described by Mr. Nelson, the fire chief in the victim impact statement,” Economopoulos said.

He recognized Holland’s remorse, saying he believes that Holland sincerely regrets his actions, and noted that the full amount of restitution was paid before his sentencing.

“That having been noted, however, the fact still remains that what happened in this case was such an earthquake for the Ford River Township Volunteer Fire Department that even the making of restitution creates a fracture (in the department).” He said.

Economopoulos said Holland paying the restitution was not a way of paying his way out of punitive punishment but doing the right thing.

“The fact still remains that you have violated the law. And that doesn’t go away with the writing of the check. The making of restitution goes a long way for the court to understand your commitment to making right what you did wrong, but it doesn’t maybe the crime disappear.

He added that the purpose of an incarcerated sentence is not punishment for punishment’s sake but a way to ensure and protect the individual from reoffending.

“It’s the minor sting that you feel so that you know that you never re-offend again,” Economopoulos said.

Holland was ultimately sentenced to the Delta County Jail for three months and must pay $198 in fines and fees. He can earn good time in jail, meaning he could serve fewer days than the original three-month sentence.

Following proceedings, Holland was taken into custody.

After sentencing, Nelson said he and the department were glad to get the funds back and finally put the incident behind them.

He also explained how the department is different, saying the township is now in charge of the department’s fundraising money.

“So, the fundraising money – now when we do fundraising, it gets turned into the township, and it is controlled by them, which it is safer,” He said.

Now, if the department wants to purchase new equipment or use the funds, it has to be approved by the township.

“It’s nothing that you know, affects how we operate or is going to put anybody’s life in jeopardy,” Nelson said.

He clarified that should a truck or other piece of vital equipment break down, the township can step in for an emergency expenditure.

Nelson wanted to thank the community that stepped up and supported the department as it went through this difficult time.

“We’ve had two pancake breakfasts since this is the first happened, and both of them have been amazing turn-outs, and the support we’ve got from the community has been has been excellent,” he said.

“We have a great organization, we have the support of the community and we appreciate that. And we will definitely, you know, continue on doing what we do, and we hope the community continues to support us. But it’d definitely be nice to have this behind us to be able to just kind of rebuild from it now and put in the past and just learn from it.”