Former state Blind Services employee is placed on three years’ probation

Thursday, Nov. 29, 2001 | 9:49 a.m.

RENO -- District Judge Janet Berry on Tuesday placed a former official of the state Blind Services program on three years probation for stealing thousands of dollars worth of equipment, tools, clothing and other items from the agency.

Kirby Fisher, who pleaded guilty to charges in the case, will have to spend 30 days on house arrest starting Saturday.

Court officials told Berry that Fisher had made restitution, but the amount was not disclosed.

Fisher, rehabilitation manager for the blind services programs in Reno, bought material, including professional kitchen equipment, for the program, then took them to his home.

The purchases occurred from 1993 to 2000. State officials said the program sometimes ran out of money to buy equipment for the blind because of Fisher's actions.

Investigator Curtis Edmonds told the judge it took "a large pickup truck and two moving vans to haul the stolen items out of Fisher's home and garage."

Tom Villoria, Fisher's lawyer, argued for probation rather than a prison term. Villoria said Fisher has attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings nearly every day since his arrest and is now employed as a stocker at a supermarket.

The judge said that after three years of successful probation, his felony conviction would be erased.

After the sentencing Berry criticized the agency for its lack of financial controls. It allowed supervisors, including Fisher to sign for purchases up to $10,000 with no oversight.

The system has since been changed.