In February, an Ocala police officer responded to Mesa De Notte restaurant, located at 2436 E. Silver Springs Boulevard, in reference to a theft.
According to the arrest affidavit, the owner said his accountant, Steven Cabrera, 37, stole a check in the amount of $36,812. The owner said he gave Cabrera a few weeks to repay the money, and when he didn’t, he called the police.
Bank surveillance showed Cabrera depositing the check into an account that did not belong to the restaurant.
Cabrera was arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail on April 5.
According to booking records, he was released later the same day.
On Friday, Cabrera pleaded guilty. Circuit Judge Steven Rogers withheld adjudication of guilt and Cabrera and was sentenced to four years probation and 100 hours of community service.
Additionally, Cabrera will be required to pay restitution and was ordered to stay away from the victim and his restaurant.
Had Cabrera received the maximum sentence, he was looking at 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
He was the accountant for the restaurant for nearly 10 years.
Cabrera has also been accused of scamming tenants out of thousands of dollars after he rented homes to individuals which were already in foreclosure.
Cabrera has not been charged with any other crimes at this time.
