BROOKINGS — The former Brookings city employee arrested for stealing from the concession stand at Larson Ice Center has entered a guilty plea.

Laleman

Paul Laleman, 40, entered a guilty plea to grand theft, a class 6 felony, according to Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson. The judge will have the discretion to sentence Laleman to up to two years in prison.

Laleman had paid restitution in the amount of $5,200, Nelson added.

Laleman, then a parks technician with the city detailed to the ice arena, was arrested and jailed briefly Jan. 29 on charges of stealing more than $7,000 from the locked concession stand at Larson Ice Center in Brookings, which he had access to because of his employment with the city.

The discrepancy between the original $7,000 number and the $5,200 in restitution was that some of the money was recovered in the investigation, according to Nelson.

According to court documents, Brookings Ice Skating Association officials noticed discrepancies in the amount of money that was supposed to be in the concessions lock box at Larson and the amounts found later, shortly before Christmas.

BISA installed covert cameras to attempt to catch the thief and Laleman, 40, was seen on camera stealing money from the drop box multiple times, according to the charging documents.

On Feb. 20 the Brookings Register confirmed Laleman lost his job with the city. City Manager Paul Briseno emailed a statement saying Laleman was no longer an employee of the city of Brookings.

BISA is a nonprofit, parent-run organization which promotes hockey in Brookings.

— Linehan is the Register’s managing editor and welcomes comments at jlinehan@brookingsregister.com