Ex-treasurer guilty of embezzling

Dracut's former treasurer pleaded guilty yesterday to embezzlement and was ordered to repay the town more than $60,000, prosecutors said.

James Douksewicz, 57, of Chelmsford pleaded guilty to charges of larceny of more than $250 and embezzlement by a town officer, prosecutors said.

Middlesex Superior Court Judge Stephen Neel ordered him to pay full restitution of $66,426.69 within 90 days, to serve probation for three years, and to enroll in a Gambler's Anonymous program.

"The defendant took advantage of his position, violating the public trust bestowed upon him in an attempt to enrich himself," Middlesex District Attorney Gerard. T. Leone said in a statement.

Douksewicz could not be reached last night. His attorney, Joseph P. Day, said he thinks the sentence was fair.

"There were transgressions there, and he had to accept the fact that he did something that was probably inappropriate," Day said. "He didn't hurt someone, but he did hurt the community. . . .

"He's very remorseful. He realizes that his life has changed as a result of his transgressions. It's a big relief for him to get on with his life."

Douksewicz stole from the town between February 2004 and May 2006, when he served as its treasurer, prosecutors said. He would collect cash with a receipt from the Dracut Sewer Department, destroy the original receipt, and take a portion of the cash by creating a new receipt reflecting a lesser amount, they said.

Sewer Department and other town employees uncovered the thefts in May 2006 and alerted Dracut police.

An independent audit determined the extent of the theft.

Douksewicz was indicted by a Middlesex grand jury last December and arraigned in January.