Easton NAACP Head Going to Trial on Theft Charges

The head of Easton's NAACP is headed to trial on charges that he stole $55,000 from his ex-wife's mother.

After more than five hours of testimony Thursday, ruled there was enough evidence to show that John Robinson had stolen the money from his ex-mother-in-law, Marilyn Ramsey, last year.

Prosecutors allege Ramsey wanted that money to go to the care of her grandchildren, but argue Robinson used it for a variety of other expenses, including paying off a business loan and delinquent taxes on his business, on the city's South Side.

Robinson, 66, of 174 Pennsylvania Ave. with two felony counts of theft and one misdemeanor count of misapplication of entrusted property. 

In court on Thursday, Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Mike Filingo accused Robinson of taking the "opportunity to prey on a sick, elderly woman."

Filingo said Robinson misled his wife by telling her the money had been stolen, and then further set out to hide what he was doing by moving the money into a joint account he shared with his mother, and making deposits under her name.

"It seems here there was a veil of deceit that was put up," testified Stephen Barron, the county controller and a certified fraud examiner, who helped investigate the case. "It almost seems like the money was being washed through the system."

Defense attorney Steven Goudsouzian argued that there was no evidence the money was anything but a gift to Robinson, or that Ramsey was unaware what was happening to her finances.

"He's entitled to use his money any way he sees fit," Goudsouzian said of Robinson.

While cross-examining Alyssa Robinson, John's ex-wife, Goudsouzian suggested that she was out to get back at her ex-husband. 

Thursday's hearing was marked by fairly dry testimony exploring Ramsey's and Robinson's finances. At one point, the judge kicked the Robinson's high school and college-aged children out of the courtroom for making faces during their mother's testimony.

They apologized to Elwell later, but were not permitted to return.

Robinson will be formally arraigned in on Jan. 12.