Man stole $34,000 from St. Paul parking meters

Last update: March 3, 2008 - 8:08 PM

A former St. Paul city employee accused of pocketing coins he collected from parking meters -- more than $34,000 worth -- pleaded guilty Monday.

Vincent C. Schettner, 63, pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court to one count of felony theft of public funds. The agreement calls for jail time of up to 90 days and restitution. He will be sentenced April 25 by Judge Michael Fetsch.

Authorities were tipped to the thefts in September when a teller at the City & County Credit Union in downtown St. Paul told an off-duty police officer that a customer -- Schettner -- was regularly depositing large amounts of coins, according to the criminal complaint.

Schettner's bank records confirmed that he was depositing $1,000 to $1,500 each week and usually took $800 to $900 cash back, the complaint said.

The document said Schettner was believed to have stolen $34,200 from December 2006 to last August.

PAT PHEIFER