As he prepared to sentence a man for stealing close to $450,000 from a volunteer fire department that he used to feed his gambling habit, Erie County Judge James Bargnesi said he had mixed emotions.

“This court does understand the complexity of gambling,” Bargnesi said to James Hoffman, former treasurer of the Sheridan Park Fire Company. “This court also understands the importance of stating ‘Stealing is not OK, whether it’s in your control or not.’”

Hoffman was sentenced by Bargnesi to two to six years in prison on his guilty plea to second-degree grand larceny, and one to three years for repeated failure to file personal income and earnings taxes.

The sentences will be served concurrently, meaning Hoffman will spend at least two and as many as six years in prison. As a condition of th

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