CNY Psychiatric Center employee charged with wage theft of more than $3,000

UTICA — Damion Walton, an employee of the Central New York Psychiatric Center (CNYPC), a facility run by the New York State Office of Mental Health, has been accused of stealing more than $3,000 in wages to which he was not entitled.

He’s accused of time abuse and theft of wages for repeatedly arriving late or leaving work early while submitting attendance records showing he worked full shifts.

Walton, 41, of Oswego Street in Utica, was arrested and arraigned on Oct. 17 on charges of 10 counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and grand larceny in the third degree, all felonies, New York State Inspector General (IG) Catherine Leahy Scott announced in an Oct. 18 news release.

An investigation by Leahy Scott found that while Walton was employed as a secure care treatment aide 2 at CNYPC. October 2016 through April 2018, he “repeatedly arrived late or left work early while submitting attendance records indicating he worked his full 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shifts.” The charges allege Walton knowingly filled out and submitted false time sheets with the intent to be paid for working full shifts that he did not work. 

“As alleged, this defendant enriched himself through the theft of wages by routinely coming in late and leaving early while submitting records showing he put in the required eight hours each day,” Leahy Scott said in the release. “State service is meant to serve the public, and I will pursue anyone who so blatantly abuses the public trust.”