Bus driver steals fares to fund gambling habit

Bus driver steals fares to fund gambling habit


A former city bus driver has dodged a criminal record after taking his longtime employer for a ride.

During a Wednesday court appearance, Ernest J. Rygus, 62, pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000.

Judge Ernie Bobowski settled on a 12-month conditional discharge, which means Rygus can say he has no criminal record as long as he successfully completes conditions of an attached probation term.

The conditions include that he continue to take counselling as directed for the gambling addiction that led to the offence.

Court heard that Rygus' case came to the city's attention when it was discovered that not as much money was coming in from the bus he was driving as they had expected.

Police officers watching Rygus' bus on July 16 discovered the reason.

Rygus was seen placing an out-of-service sign on his empty bus a couple of times, then using a coat hanger with a magnet on the end to fish coins from the coin deposit.