Middlesex County's Register of Probate John Buonomo pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges he stole thousands of dollars from copy and money machines inside his office building.
The 56-year-old Newton resident, who earns a six-figure salary, quietly tucked himself behind his attorney at Cambridge District Court during yesterday's arraignment. A pretrial date has been set for Sept. 18.
Buonomo was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay out of the building that houses the Register of Deeds and Probate.
"He's anxious, upset, and very concerned about the charges," said Buonomo's attorney, Michael Natola, after the arraignment.
On Wednesday, Buonomo was arrested by state police and charged with 18 counts of breaking and entering into a depository, eight counts of theft of public property and eight counts of larceny under $250, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's office.
Joan Kenney, a spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the Trial Court, issued a statement yesterday saying Buonomo had been placed on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the case.
"The Chief Justices are confident in the integrity and capability of the staff in the Register's office to operate effectively and professionally in the absence of Mr. Buonomo," Kenney said.
Buonomo had been caught on tape counting and stealing cash repeatedly from machines inside the Office of the Register of Deeds 208 Cambridge St. during June, July and August, Assistant District Attorney John Verner said.
He was captured on video 18 different times opening the machines. Eight of those times, Buonomo was seen pocketing some of the money, Verner said. The other footage was of him taking out stacks of dollar bills, counting them and returning them back to the machines.
Buonomo gave police two different stories during his arrest, according to Verner. He first denied the allegations, but later told police that he took the money to purchase office supplies.
During Buonomo's arrest, Verner said police found two keys that accessed the copy machines and a box filled with $100 in one dollar bills under his desk.
Video surveillance cameras were installed on the second floor and basement levels after Registry employees noticed monthly shortages in receipts. Two electricians allegedly witnessed him handling the cash after work hours, but were told by Buonomo that his job was to count the money.
But according to the Registry of Deeds, Buonomo has no authority to access the cash machines or copy machines, nor does he have the authority to remove money.
Buonomo has been instructed by the judge to turn over the keys, collect his personal belongings from his office, and refrain from any contact with witnesses or office personnel.
Christopher Lewis, a long-time supporter and friend, said Buonomo was "relentless" on the job as register of probate since his election in 2000.
"When he got there, the Middlesex County probate was broken," Lewis said. "(Buonomo) did yeoman's work to fix it."
Lewis said he knows Buonomo from attending fundraisers and being in the same social circles, labeling him as a "good man" with plans at one point to run for state auditor in 2010.
"I'm shocked not more people came here to support him, or are outraged by these allegations," he said.
Natola said that as of now Buonomo still plans to run for re-election. He has not resigned as register. According to the Boston Herald payroll database, Buonomo made $110,221 in 2007. He is a father of two young sons.Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said the charges of "brazen theft" are "highly troubling." The investigation is ongoing.
"We believe that Mr. Buonomo violated the public's trust by regularly accessing these cash machines without authority and stealing taxpayer money," Leone said in a press release.
While the larceny charge is a misdemeanor, the breaking and entering and theft charges are felonies for which Buonomo can face penalties up to 20 years in state prison.
Buonomo had fought hard for the registry seat eight years ago.
He demanded a recount after losing the Democratic primary contest to Thomas Concannon, a Newton attorney, in September 2000. The tally was reversed that October, and Buonomo won the general election in November.
"There are different mores in different towns about elections," Concannon said. Uncounted ballots in Somerville and Cambridge surfaced after the September primary, a development Concannon called "strange."
"I'm not saying it was untoward," Concannon said, adding later that, "it was an interesting experience."
Buonomo's political career began in 1979, when he was elected to the Somerville School Committee. He took a seat on the Somerville Board of Aldermen in 1986.
The state came calling three years later. Buonomo served as executive director of an employment service program for the state Department of Transitional Assistance from 1991 to 1995.
He directed the state's One-Stop Career Center, another employment program, from 1995 to 2000.
Buonomo remained on the Board of Aldermen during his time in state government. He served on the board with current Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone. A spokeswoman for Curtatone declined to comment yesterday.
Buonomo ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Somerville in 1999. He lost the Democratic primary to Dorothy Kelly Gay, who later won the general election.
Kelly Gay did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Travis Andersen contributed to this report.
(Material from the Associated Press was used in this report)
