Sebastian maintenance supervisor arrested, fired for stealing cash

SEBASTIAN — A city maintenance supervisor was fired Wednesday after Sebastian police said he had been stealing cash from an office at the Sebastian Community Center, officials said.

Martin O'Brien, 49, of the first block of Taxiway Drive, Sebastian, was charged Friday with scheme to defraud for less than $20,000. He posted $1,500 bail at the Indian River County Jail Saturday.

City Manager Al Minner said O'Brien's termination was effective Wednesday.

Police said O'Brien, who had the master keys for the community center in the 1800 block of North Central Avenue, was taking the money from the office of the recreational supervisor. O'Brien entered the office and stole cash three times between Nov. 26 and Dec. 18, his arrest affidavit states. O'Brien told police he stole because of stress from the holiday season, according to the affidavit.

The first time he stole about $12 in an envelope, police said. O'Brien stole nearly $300 in the other two incidents, including personal money belonging to the recreational supervisor, the affidavit states. The crimes were reported Dec. 20.

A Sebastian police detective placed $150 cash in two envelopes in the office and set up a surveillance camera that same day. The office was locked and no one besides the cleaning crew had permission to go inside, the affidavit states.

Friday — the day after the cash and camera were set up — O'Brien went into the office and took the envelopes, police said. O'Brien was also shown on camera wiping off the door knob before leaving.

The detective reviewed the recording Friday afternoon and took O'Brien into custody, according to the report.