Paul Wyatt believes he's innocent. But his prospects for acquittal don't look good. On May 12, Wyatt, formerly president and business manager of the Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Stage and Picture Operators Local 220, pleaded not guilty in federal court after being charged with embezzling about $35,000 from the union, an affiliate of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). Prosecutors allege the thefts occurred during January 2008-August 2009. Wyatt, 48, a resident of Sioux Falls, was released on bond. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
Paul Wyatt's personal trauma was real. Unfortunately, so were his acts of theft. Wyatt, formerly president and business manager of Stage and Picture Operators Local 220, was sentenced in federal court on September 13 to six months in prison, plus six months of home confinement and three months of probation, for embezzling more than $35,000 from the Sioux Falls-based union. He also will have to make full restitution. Wyatt originally pleaded not guilty this May, but changed his plea to guilty.
