Dirk Fitch, former Martins Ferry City School District superintendent, is sentenced to community controls Monday for his role in defrauding a business out of charitable donations to benefit a school athletic fund. He is pictured with attorney Elgine McArdle. (Photo by Robert A. DeFrank)

A former Martins Ferry City School District superintendent was sentenced Monday afternoon for helping to defraud a business to benefit a school athletic fund.

Dirk Fitch, no age listed in court documents, of 72024 Sharon Road, Bridgeport, appeared before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra, who imposed a sentence of community controls for one year and a reserve sentence of one-and-a-half years in prison should Fitch violate those controls. Fitch had pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony grand theft, occurring in 2013. The victim was the FM Global Foundation.

In August, co-defendant and Martins Ferry High School alumnus Robert Kimble was also sentenced for fourth-degree felony grand theft. Kimble had been an employee of FM Global Foundation. FM Global had a policy of double-matching an employee’s charitable donations.

Kimble was accused of participating in a plan where another man would write a check to Kimble, who would then deposit this check, write his own check for a donation and report to FM Global. There were multiple donations, some as high as $5,000. The person who originally wrote the check was also paid back with this fund. FM Global was reportedly defrauded out of $26,600 in total.

Vavra said the account was maintained “outside the books” of the school district and was set up to pay for resurfacing the football field.

Kimble, Fitch and the individual who allegedly wrote the checks came under suspicion. During the sentencing, attorneys noted Kimble has since made full restitution.

Fitch retired as superintendent in 2017, after a 33-year career with the district.

Fitch spoke during sentencing.

“I accept my part of the situation and take responsibility for my actions,” he said. “I’d like to apologize to the FM Global company. I would also like to apologize to the court.”

Vavra took Fitch’s formerly law-abiding life into consideration, as well as his motive.

“However that’s not a defense,” Vavra said, noting Fitch was not eligible for incarceration according to state law.

“I’m glad Mr. Fitch took responsibility for his actions,” special prosecutor Tom Anger from the state auditor’s office said afterward.

Martins Ferry Superintendent Jim Fogle responded to a request for comment via text message and stated he had no comment.