A Clarks Summit man accused of stealing funds from Ritz PAC Holdings LLC, has been accepted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, or ARD, program and may have his record cleared if he completes the program.<\/p>\n
In March of 2025, James Olecki, 49, the former business manager of the Ritz Theater in Scranton, was charged with stealing more than $74,000 from the fledgling business, which opened its doors in June 2024.<\/p>\n
Although, the ARD program includes a period of probation and fees in exchange for potential expungement of the charges, Olecki said he feels vindicated following Friday\u2019s proceeding.<\/p>\n
Admission into the program doesn\u2019t require an admission of guilt.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally, after 20 months, I feel vindicated by the outcome in this case,\u201d he said, following a Friday hearing.\u00a0 \u201cFrom day one, I have maintained that I did not steal from The Ritz Theater and my decision to accept ARD does not change that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He called the day, \u201cbittersweet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former partner looks ahead<\/p>\n
The charges stemmed from a report from Joshua Balz, who told police Olecki stole from business accounts made through his designated debit card.<\/p>\n
Balz is majority owner and managing member of Ritz PAC LLC, Ritz Entertainment and Masterbalz LLC, which collectively own and operate the Ritz Theater.<\/p>\n
Olecki called Balz allegations a \u201cprofound betrayal\u201d by him and Olecki\u2019s former wife Linell Homentosky, in an attempt to remove him from the business he owned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe outcome speaks more powerfully than anything I could say about them,\u201d Olecki said about the hearing\u2019s outcome.<\/p>\n
Balz, however, considered the proceeding\u2019s outcome a victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very happy with this finally being put to bed and happy that the small guys won and we are appreciative of the Lackawanna county court system for taking this a grueling year and a half,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBehind closed doors, this is a very big win for us as the next step is a civil lawsuit to not only receive adequate repayment but also much much more.\u201d<\/p>\n
DA puzzled<\/p>\n
Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher said he is puzzled by Olecki\u2019s assertion that he didn\u2019t steal from the Ritz.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision to admit Mr. Olecki into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program was based upon legitimate, evidentiary and legal issues arising from the parties\u2019 partnership agreement and the nature of their business relationship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gallagher pointed out that the victims of the crime asked the case be resolved by accepting Olecki into the ARD program.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Olecki appeared in court and acknowledged that he is a thief and that he committed a crime of theft by unlawful taking,\u201d he said. \u201cHis subsequent public suggestion that he was vindicated or that his conduct did not constitute theft is puzzling, to say the least, and inconsistent with what he took responsibility for in open court before a judge.\u201d<\/p>\n
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