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'I'm ashamed,' ex-Sandusky lawyer Karl Rominger says as he gets state prison for stealing $767K
By Matt Miller
August 17, 2016
In in his heyday as a defense attorney, Karl Rominger was aggressive, even brash on behalf of his clients.
A far more humble, even tearful Rominger stood before a judge in a Cumberland County courtroom Wednesday afternoon and received a 5 1/2- to 18-year state prison sentence for stealing more than $767,000 from his clients.
The pilfered money, some of which was stolen from an estate that helps finance the Bethesda Mission for the homeless in Harrisburg, went to feed his gambling addiction, said Rominger, who was part of the defense team for Jerry Sandusky's child-sex trial.
"I'm ashamed. I'm very ashamed of what I've done," the 43-year-old Carlisle man told Adams County Judge Michael George, who presided specially in the case. "It's something I can't undo, I can't take back."
"When you gamble, it feeds itself," Rominger said, choking up. "Someday I'd like to make it all right."
A far more humble, even tearful Rominger stood before a judge in a Cumberland County courtroom Wednesday afternoon and received a 5 1/2- to 18-year state prison sentence for stealing more than $767,000 from his clients.
The pilfered money, some of which was stolen from an estate that helps finance the Bethesda Mission for the homeless in Harrisburg, went to feed his gambling addiction, said Rominger, who was part of the defense team for Jerry Sandusky's child-sex trial.
"I'm ashamed. I'm very ashamed of what I've done," the 43-year-old Carlisle man told Adams County Judge Michael George, who presided specially in the case. "It's something I can't undo, I can't take back."
"When you gamble, it feeds itself," Rominger said, choking up. "Someday I'd like to make it all right."
Rominger, who has surrendered his law license, seemed stunned when George announced his punishment.
It could have been worse. First Assistant District Attorney Jaime Keating asked for a 7 1/2- to 15-year prison term, citing the wave of harm the thefts caused to Rominger's clients. That damage was mitigated only partially by payments from the Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security that made some of the 18 victims financially whole, Keating said.
George did honor Keating's request for an 18-year probation sentence in addition to the jail time.
Keating questioned whether gambling was the sole motivation for the crimes. Avarice was its accomplice, he said.
"It was more than just gambling. It was living the high life beyond his means," Keating said. "This defendant used his law license as a license to steal."
He called a defense proposal for a sentence that would have allowed Rominger enough liberty to keep working so he could pay installments on restitution "unrealistic," given the amount of money that was stolen.
Rominger didn't lack support as he awaited his fate. Defense attorney Heidi Eakin asked those crowded into the courtroom to stand if they were there on Rominger's behalf. Thirty-two people, well over half the crowd, stood up.
Eakin said Rominger has undergone "rather intensive therapy" for his gambling addiction, which first gripped him in 2010. Also, she said, he has filed documents with the state gambling commission to bar him from even entering any Pennsylvania casino for the rest of his life.
"This gambling has led Karl to lose pretty much everything," Eakin said. His remaining assets, except for a $1,500 pickup truck, "would fit into a corner of this courtroom," she said.
Keating called several victims to make impact statements. Natasha Humphreys-Alamo, told how Rominger diverted an insurance settlement her hard-pressed family was to receive from an auto accident.
"That insurance settlement was all we had," she said. Rominger betrayed her not only as an attorney, but as a friend, Humphreys-Alamo said. Like Keating, she said she believes high living as much as gambling caused the thefts.
"I believe Karl got caught up in the business of being a good, upscale attorney," she said. "Our money is what paid for that."
Still, she said she doesn't hate Rominger and didn't want him to receive a long jail term, especially for the sake of his young son. "But I do believe there has to be a punishment for this crime," she added.
Chuck Wingate, Bethesda Mission's executive director, said Rominger's thefts from the estate cost the charity $75,000 to $100,000 in income, forcing it to deplete its reserves to meet an ever-growing need.
"Our clients and guests are the most vulnerable people in town," he said. "As Christians, we have forgiven Mr. Rominger. But we do know that actions have consequences."
In passing sentence, George said he believes Rominger's remorse is genuine. Still, the judge said Rominger's "breach of trust" can't be ignored.
"You have caused a lot of harm to a lot of people," George said.
Rominger's legal troubles didn't end when sheriff's deputies slapped him in handcuffs, loaded him in a van and drove him off to prison.
He still faces sentencing in federal court on his guilty plea to $116,000 worth of federal tax fraud charges for not reporting his stolen income to the IRS.
It could have been worse. First Assistant District Attorney Jaime Keating asked for a 7 1/2- to 15-year prison term, citing the wave of harm the thefts caused to Rominger's clients. That damage was mitigated only partially by payments from the Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security that made some of the 18 victims financially whole, Keating said.
George did honor Keating's request for an 18-year probation sentence in addition to the jail time.
Keating questioned whether gambling was the sole motivation for the crimes. Avarice was its accomplice, he said.
"It was more than just gambling. It was living the high life beyond his means," Keating said. "This defendant used his law license as a license to steal."
He called a defense proposal for a sentence that would have allowed Rominger enough liberty to keep working so he could pay installments on restitution "unrealistic," given the amount of money that was stolen.
Rominger didn't lack support as he awaited his fate. Defense attorney Heidi Eakin asked those crowded into the courtroom to stand if they were there on Rominger's behalf. Thirty-two people, well over half the crowd, stood up.
Eakin said Rominger has undergone "rather intensive therapy" for his gambling addiction, which first gripped him in 2010. Also, she said, he has filed documents with the state gambling commission to bar him from even entering any Pennsylvania casino for the rest of his life.
"This gambling has led Karl to lose pretty much everything," Eakin said. His remaining assets, except for a $1,500 pickup truck, "would fit into a corner of this courtroom," she said.
Keating called several victims to make impact statements. Natasha Humphreys-Alamo, told how Rominger diverted an insurance settlement her hard-pressed family was to receive from an auto accident.
"That insurance settlement was all we had," she said. Rominger betrayed her not only as an attorney, but as a friend, Humphreys-Alamo said. Like Keating, she said she believes high living as much as gambling caused the thefts.
"I believe Karl got caught up in the business of being a good, upscale attorney," she said. "Our money is what paid for that."
Still, she said she doesn't hate Rominger and didn't want him to receive a long jail term, especially for the sake of his young son. "But I do believe there has to be a punishment for this crime," she added.
Chuck Wingate, Bethesda Mission's executive director, said Rominger's thefts from the estate cost the charity $75,000 to $100,000 in income, forcing it to deplete its reserves to meet an ever-growing need.
"Our clients and guests are the most vulnerable people in town," he said. "As Christians, we have forgiven Mr. Rominger. But we do know that actions have consequences."
In passing sentence, George said he believes Rominger's remorse is genuine. Still, the judge said Rominger's "breach of trust" can't be ignored.
"You have caused a lot of harm to a lot of people," George said.
Rominger's legal troubles didn't end when sheriff's deputies slapped him in handcuffs, loaded him in a van and drove him off to prison.
He still faces sentencing in federal court on his guilty plea to $116,000 worth of federal tax fraud charges for not reporting his stolen income to the IRS.
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