Mass. school employee stole food, supplies for his Cape Cod snack shack, authorities say
A Plymouth County public schools employee faces larceny charges after officials say he stole food and cafeteria equipment for several years for resale at his snack shack on Cape Cod.
Patrick VanCott, 62, of Sandwich pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Plymouth District Court on Friday. His charges include larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme, larceny from a building and larceny under $1,200 by a single scheme.
He was ordered held on a $50,000 cash bail and to stay away from all Plymouth school campuses and school storage facilities. He's been placed on administrative leave, according to officials.
A superior court judge lowered his cash bail to $10,000 after his attorney petitioned for a bail review on Friday, court records show. He posted the bail and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor upon his release.
'People should be reminded that folks are innocent until proven guilty and we are going to vigorously defend this case,' Nate Amendola, an attorney for VanCott, said on Sunday.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz's Office said public school officials contacted the police after they received an anonymous letter 'alleging criminal activity' at the Plymouth Community Intermediate School.
'The letter alleged that a person has been stealing commercial equipment and food products from the school,' officials said.
The property is owned by the town and paid for with federal dollars, officials said.
VanCott, the director of food services for Plymouth public schools, was identified as the suspect after a police investigation.
He is the only person with the authority to place orders for the cafeteria, officials said.
VanCott also runs a snack shack at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, officials said.
His orders consisted of premium Angus hamburgers, hot dogs, lobster meat, and other food products that were not served to students or school staff, officials said.
Surveillance footage shows VanCott taking two commercial refrigerators from the school and onto his truck in April, officials said.
Police reviewed cafeteria financial documents and compiled a list of items purchased by VanCott but not currently in the public schools' storage facility that totaled over $8,300 in goods, including:
Refrigerated sandwich table: $1,700
2 frying pans: $96
Convection oven: $850
Undercounter freezer: $1,700
Microwave: $299
Bagel warmer: $294
Cuisinart coffee maker: $84
In June, police executed a search warrant at the snack shack and found an industrial-sized refrigerator and other kitchen equipment and 'government-issued' food.
VanCott was taken into custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 21.
National Guard troops arrive in Los Angeles on Trump's orders to quell immigration protests
These beaches in Massachusetts are closed on Sunday, June 8
Swim portion of Springfield's Ironman 70.3 canceled due to Connecticut River pollution
10 cases of rare illness linked to Botox from Mass. spa, officials warn
Mass. State Lottery winner: Cape Cod man wins $120,000 'Keno' prize
Read the original article on MassLive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
Tupac Murder Trial Update: Defendant Calls Out Prosecutor's Remark in Court
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the man accused of killing rapper Tupac Shakur, challenged comments from the prosecution during a court hearing on Tuesday. Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo said the jurors in Davis' battery trial did not know who he was, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. "Yes, they did," Davis said. Newsweek reached out to the Clark County District Attorney's Office and Carl Arnold, Davis' attorney, for comment. Davis was convicted on counts of battery by a prisoner and challenging someone to a fight in April after an altercation with another inmate. Davis is scheduled to go to trial for a murder charge related to Shakur's killing in February 2026. Arnold and Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal indicated during today's hearing that they would be ready to start the trial at that time. Duane "Keffe D" Davis appears for a hearing related to his indictment in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, February 18, 2025 at District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada. Duane "Keffe D" Davis appears for a hearing related to his indictment in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, February 18, 2025 at District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by John Locher-Pool/Getty Images Why It Matters The murder of Shakur has remained one of American pop culture's most enduring and scrutinized mysteries. Shakur, widely known as 2Pac, died at age 25 after being shot in a drive-by attack near the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996. He succumbed to his injuries six days later. The case remained open and unresolved for nearly three decades despite intense public speculation, documentary coverage, and various conspiracy theories about what really happened that night. What To Know In September 2023, Las Vegas police arrested Davis, an alleged former gang leader from Compton, California. In his 2019 memoir, Davis claimed he was inside the car where the shots were fired from and described acquiring a .40-caliber handgun and handing it to his nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson. Authorities and Davis himself claimed the shots that killed Shakur came from this vehicle. Davis and his attorney have argued that he should not have been charged due to immunity agreements he claimed were made with federal and local authorities years ago. His attorneys characterized the indictment and 27-year delay in prosecution as a violation of constitutional rights. However, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny stated that "the state of Nevada has never offered" Davis such a deal. Davis' attempt earlier this year to dismiss the case was unsuccessful. Prosecutors have described the evidence against Davis as compelling, including the detailed accounts in his book. The 1996 shooting allegedly followed a casino altercation between Shakur and Anderson. Anderson, who had denied any involvement, was fatally shot in 1998. Other alleged accomplices are also deceased. Davis has remained in custody since his arrest. An attempt by Arnold to get Davis released on house arrest was denied by Kierny last year. Kierny cited concerns about Davis and the person offering to pay his bail profiting off the sale of Davis' life story. What People Are Saying Arnold, in a statement to Newsweek last year after Davis was denied release: "We firmly believe there is a lack of substantive proof that Mr. Davis intended to profit from his alleged connections to the case." Kierny, addressing Arnold at a hearing in July 2024: "It seems like your plan, your end goal here, is to make some kind of show for the press of this trial." What Happens Next Another hearing in the murder case is scheduled for September 9. Davis is also challenging his convictions related to the altercation in jail. His attorney has requested a new trial, and a hearing has been set for July 2. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Fox Sports
Jakob Ingebrigtsen's father convicted of 1 count of minor assault, acquitted of other abuse charges
Associated Press SANDNES, Norway (AP) — Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the father of Norwegian track star Jakob Ingebrigtsen, was convicted Monday of one count of assault against his daughter and given a suspended prison sentence. A court acquitted Gjert of other charges including abusing Jakob, a multiple Olympic and world middle-distance champion. In a trial that started in March and has gripped Norway, Gjert, 59, was accused of an alleged years-long campaign of domestic abuse toward Jakob and younger sister, Ingrid. Gjert denied the charges against him. A verdict in the case was delivered in writing by Soer Rogaland District Court and Gjert was convicted of a single incident of minor assault against his daughter, his legal team confirmed to The Associated Press. He was handed a 15-day suspended sentence and ordered to pay NOK 10,000 ($1,010) in compensation. John Christian Elden and Heidi Reisvang, defense attorneys from Elden Law Firm, said it was the court's conclusion that there 'was no evidence to show that Gjert Ingebrigtsen created a continuous fear in his children.' 'There are no winners in this case,' Reisvang, who was assisting counsel during the trial, told the AP. 'He (Gjert) hopes that one day he will have contact and a relationship with his family again.' Gjert became a prominent media figure in Norway in 2016 following his involvement in the TV documentary series Team Ingebrigtsen, in which he was seen coaching his three track-and-field sons, Jakob, Filip and Henrik. The series ran until 2021. By 2022 the trio had parted ways with their coach-father and the following year co-signed a column in the national newspaper, VG, accusing Gjert of physical violence and intimidation. The police opened an investigation, with court proceedings eventually brought relating to Gjert's treatment of Jakob and Ingrid. Gjert continued coaching after the split with his sons and now guides Jakob's 1500-meter Norwegian rival, Narve Gilje Nordas. The 24-year-old Jakob won Olympic gold in the 1,500 meters at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and the 5,000 at the Paris Games in 2024. He was world champion at the 5,000 in 2022 and '23. He listed his achievements on the track in a post on Instagram — published soon after the verdict in the trial was announced — in which he said the goal he most cares about is that his daughter, Filippa, 'will love and respect me for her upbringing.' ___ AP sports: recommended in this topic
The Hill
6 days ago
- The Hill
Jakob Ingebrigtsen's father convicted of assaulting daughter and acquitted of other abuse charges
SANDNES, Norway (AP) — Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the father of Norwegian track star Jakob Ingebrigtsen, was convicted Monday of assaulting his daughter and handed a suspended prison sentence. A court acquitted Gjert of other charges including abusing Jakob, a multiple Olympic and world middle-distance champion. In a trial that started in March and has gripped Norway, Gjert, 59, was accused of an alleged years-long campaign of domestic abuse toward Jakob and younger sister, Ingrid. A verdict in the case was delivered in writing by Soer Rogaland District Court and Gjert was convicted of a single incident of assault against his daughter, his legal team confirmed to The Associated Press. He was given a 15-day suspended sentence and ordered to pay NOK 10,000 ($1,010) in compensation. John Christian Elden and Heidi Reisvang, defense attorneys from Elden Law Firm, said it was the court's conclusion that there 'was no evidence to show that Gjert Ingebrigtsen created a continuous fear in his children.' 'There are no winners in this case,' Reisvang, who was assisting counsel during the trial, told the AP. 'He (Gjert) hopes that one day he will have contact and a relationship with his family again.' Gjert became a prominent media figure in Norway in 2016 following his involvement in the TV documentary series Team Ingebrigtsen, in which he was seen coaching his three track-and-field sons, Jakob, Filip and Henrik. The series ran until 2021. By 2022 the trio had parted ways with their coach-father and the following year co-signed a column in the national newspaper, VG, accusing Gjert of physical violence and intimidation. The police opened an investigation, with court proceedings eventually brought relating to Gjert's treatment of Jakob and Ingrid. Gjert continued coaching after the split with his sons and now guides Jakob's 1500 meters Norwegian rival Narve Gilje Nordas. ___ AP sports:
