Probation for ex-Liberty school employee in computer damaging case

A former Liberty Local Schools employee has been convicted of criminal damaging and attempted theft after police said he broke a school-owned computer and tried to dispose of it.

Luke Polito, 34, of Poland, was found guilty of misdemeanor criminal damaging, a lesser offense to the initial felony vandalism charge, and misdemeanor attempted theft, a lesser offense to the original misdemeanor theft charge, in Girard Municipal Court.

According to a police report, a school resource officer was called to a meeting with Superintendent Brian Knight and High School Principal Tom Zetts on May 11. Knight told the officer that Polito, an intervention assistant for the district, took a computer from the school and put it in his car.

Polito told police took the computer because he did not want the school administration to discover he was using it during work hours to apply for other jobs. The report further alleged that Polito intended to delete his resume and applications from the computer.

Police said Polito put the computer on the roof while cleaning his car, and it fell off and broke. According to the report, Polito panicked and threw the computer in a dumpster, but later became nervous and tried to retrieve the computer, but it was gone.

Judge Jeffrey Adler sentenced Polito to two years’ probation and ordered him to pay $500 in restitution to Liberty Local Schools immediately, along with fines and court costs totaling $677 for the criminal damaging charge and $150 for the attempted theft charge, to be paid in monthly installments of $100.

Polito was placed on administrative leave following the incident, and charges were filed against him.