Former city forester charged with felony theft

The man who had been Rochester’s most visible supporter of planting more trees in the city

has been charged with three felonies, accusing him of falsifying his vacation and sick hours information. The charges were filed yesterday against former city forester Jacob Ryg. The 36 year old Ryg left his job with the city Park Department earlier this year after evidence of what had happened was confirmed. His supervisor became aware of the activity in December.

The criminal complaint says Ryg admitted to a police investigator that he had falsified the reports in 2012 and last year. The complaint says the total monetary value of the paid time off that was not deducted from his account was just over $11,500. After learning of the activity, the city reclaimed Ryg’s unused vacation and sick time in January. The total reversal was around $5600. The complaint says Ryg also gave the city a check for just under $1,000. The balance owed the city is nearly $3400. He has been ordered to make his first court appearance May 1st.