MADISON, Neb. --After stealing about $750,000 in the fall/winter of 2022, Jeffrey Stewart has been sentenced and ordered to pay restitution. 

“I destroyed my life,” Stewart said. “I let down my family and friends. I mean, I've destroyed a career.”

The former North Fork Area Transit manager pleaded no contest back on July 29. Stewart was sentenced on two charges. 

  1. Unauthorized use of a transaction device $5,000/+ - 15-18 years + $740,000 in restitution.
  2. Obstruction of Government Operations - 90 days

“The bottom fell out of the floor,” Stewart said. “I mean, I have been on these medications the majority of my adult life. (I) Was taken off of those medications, between the alcohol and the substances, I was not in my right frame of mind.”

Stewart stated his regret during his sentencing he expressed that his wrongdoing would catch up with him. 

“The charade couldn't go on any longer, and I personally could not take it any longer,” Stewart said. 

The second charge comes from an incident within Madison County Jail, where Stewart fell and claimed he was injured. The charge is due to the fact that Stewart was in fact not injured in the way he specified. 

“Not taking away from the seriousness of what I've done, I just don't know what happened,” Stewart said. “I mean, mentally, I can't explain it to you.”

Stewart was given credit for 417 days served in Madison County Jail. Judge James G. Kube handed down Stewart’s sentencing.

“You knew right from wrong,” said Kube. “And regardless of the fact that maybe you had been suffering from mental health issues, change in medication, whatever, you knew what you were doing at the time was wrong.”

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Stewart said. “I wish, and I pray to God every single day that I would have done something differently."