Local man charged in theft of $24,000 from Pizza Ranch

A Newton man has been charged with first-degree theft for allegedly gambling away more than $24,000 he was accused of stealing from Pizza Ranch while employed as a manager at the restaurant.

Following an investigation, Newton authorities charged 50-year-old Dennis E. McNeeley of Newton with first-degree theft Wednesday after the owner of Pizza Ranch contacted police about a month earlier to pursue criminal charges in the theft of $24,553.70 in cash from nightly deposits between August and October of 2008.

According to police reports, McNeeley admitted to the restaurant owner that he took money from the nightly deposits on several occasions and gambled it away at a casino. The owner attempted to work out a payment plan with McNeeley but went to authorities after McNeeley failed to keep up with the payments, according to police reports.

Another local man also was arrested recently in connection with a separate theft from Pizza Ranch. Joshua D. Bozarth, 25, of Newton was charged last week with second-degree theft for allegedly stealing $2,413 from Pizza Ranch while he was employed at the restaurant. The incident was reported June 11 and occurred over a period of time between May 12 and June 9.

Mandi Lamb can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 424 or via e-mail at mlamb@newtondailynews.com.