Beeman's Letter from Prison - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Beeman's Letter from Prison

A letter was sent to reporter John Last from Erie County Councilman Ebert Beeman. Beeman is serving one year and one day at the federal penitentiary in Loretto, PA after pleading guilty to Social Security Fraud.

While Beeman sits in prison, county officials have been attempting to remove him from office. Beeman has been fighting those efforts in court.  The latest volley came from County Executive Barry Grossman, who suspended Beeman's pay.

In the letter, Beeman wrote that he did not want to be paid for the job in the first place. Beeman said he never drew a penny from his other elected position as Waterford Township Auditor.

Supervisor Jack Stull says that's true.

"There would be a minimal payment, but Bill (Beeman) would never want to take any money for it. He just wanted to serve," Stull said.

Beeman still holds the office of township auditor. While county officials are working hard to have him removed as councilman, the folks in Waterford Township don't seem to mind that he's still one of their auditors.

"There's been nothing said to me," Stull said. "I have not heard anything that Mr. Beeman should resign. I believe when he serves his time and comes back, he'll still be an auditor for Waterford Township."

As long as no citizens have complained, no one in government in Waterford Township will take any action to remove Beeman as auditor.

"The comments I hear are, it was a dumb thing he did. Why he did it, no one knows," Stull said. "He's very well liked. Respected family. I think Bill would walk into a restaurant or a business establishment in Waterford and people would say, "Hi Bill. How are you doing?" I don't think anyone would be critical to his face. Maybe behind his back, but not to his face."

Beeman is one of three auditors in the township, so the group still has a quorum for it's one business meeting a year.