Craig M. Hone

A Westmoreland County man will be heading to state prison when he is sentenced, after pleading guilty Wednesday in county court to stealing nearly $700,000 from a his former employer, Cygnus Manufacturing.

Craig M. Hone, 53, of New Kensington, pleaded guilty to felony theft by deception before Judge William Shaffer.

The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 1 to 2 years in a state correctional facility.

His parole will be followed by probation, the length of which is at the judge's discretion at the time of sentencing, and could be a maximum of 18 years.

Hone will also be ordered to pay court costs, fines and $683,768.30 in restitution.

A full story will appear in Thursday's Butler Eagle.