Dumas Makes Plea in Case

Former St. Clair Shores pleaded guilty in Macomb County Circuit Court on Thursday to misconduct in office charge for mishandling city funds during his tenure as the city's department of public works director.

Dumas said little during pretrial hearing before Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Donald Miller, but did read a prepared statement prior to pleading guility.

"In about 2007 the city changed bookkeeping and financial procedures requring all money received by the DPW from the sale of scrap metal be deposited into a specified city bank account," Dumas said. "In my capacity as director, I did not properly deposit scrap metal sale funds into the designated city bank accounts."

He will have a delayed sentence, and could have the five-year felony reduced to failure of safe keeping of public funds after the probationary period. Dumas will also be responsible for repaying the unaccounted portion of nearly $19,000 in scrap metal funds paid to the city during his tenure.

Dumas was originally charged with embezzlement by a public official and safekeeping of public funds for allegedly embezzled city funds from the sale of scrap metal while DPW director.

Investigators alleged that Dumas had taken between $18,000-20,000 from the sale of scrap metal and used it for employee parties and baseball tickets.

Dumas, who previously served as mayor and a member of the city council, resigned in January from his job.

"He absolutely and adamantly denies he took any of the money. The money was all spent on city-related and employee functions," said Brian Legghio, Dumas' attorney.

He remains free on personal bond prior to his Feb. 9 sentencing.