Employee Gets 6 Months In Jail For Stealing $300k Worth Of Tech Products From School District

DEXTER, Mich. (AP) -- Silence may have been costly to a technology specialist who has been sentenced to six months in jail for stealing laptops, Apple products and other equipment from a Washtenaw County school district.

Brian Tungl didn't speak in court Monday on the advice of his lawyer. But Judge David Swartz said, "Maybe that wasn't the wisest advice." The judge was looking for remorse.

Tungl worked for the Dexter district, which spent more than 1,000 hours investigating the thefts. He pleaded no contest last month to embezzling equipment. The Ann Arbor News quotes officials as saying the equipment was worth more than $300,000.

Tungl also must perform 500 hours of community service. Defense attorney Vincent Haisha says Tungl will speak at a restitution hearing. He calls him an "upstanding citizen."