BRIDGEWATER - A former accountant who stole thousands from his employer, then breached probation by failing to repay the money was back in court here September 3.

 Frederick Cochrane Colbourne told Judge Anne Crawford he's still behind on his payments and asked to have the monthly amounts reduced. He said he's hoping to find work, but negative publi-city surrounding his court case has made that difficult.

 Back in October 2005, Mr. Colbourne pleaded guilty to 19 fraud-related charges stemming from his employment with Apple Auto Glass. In January 2006, he was ordered to pay $3,579 restitution.

 When he appeared in court in May of this year, Mr. Colbourne had paid only $150. He pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching probation and was placed on probation for another year with orders to pay $800 per month.

 At that time, Judge Crawford told him if he missed one payment without a good excuse, she'd send him to jail.

 Mr. Colbourne made the first payment, but then fell behind. He was back in court August 20 charged with another breach of probation.

 The 62 year old agreed to pay $1,600 by the end of August. He did that, leaving his total owing at $1,029. In court last week, Judge Crawford reduced his monthly payments to $200 for August, September and October. He's due back in court on November 12 for a status report.

posted on 09/09/08