State budget director pleads guilty to shoplifting, door open for Wilmington post

WILMINGTON — A little more than a month after being placed on administrative leave due to shoplifting arrest, former Delaware budget director Cerron Cade has resolved shoplifting charges and will join Wilmington Mayor John Carney as his chief of staff.

Cade pled guilty to one count of shoplifting in the Court of Common Pleas Wednesday and was sentenced to probation before judgment with low-level probation lasting for one year, as first reported by WHYY. Meanwhile, he was also been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and complete any recommended treatment.

His sentencing also requires him to repay $394.32 to Home Depot where the items were taken. According to court records, Cade used the self-checkout register and skipped scanning several items that ranged from gardening and patio to other home uses. The thefts occurred over multiple occasions between June and October, according to records. Ultimately, Cade was charged on six counts of misdemeanor shoplifting.

- Advertisement -

Once the conditions of court orders have been met, Cade’s remaining five shoplifting charges will be dropped.

Although there is no official timeline, Carney’s office did confirm to the Delaware Business Times that Cade will serve as the mayor’s chief of staff once the conditions of the court have been met.

Cade had served as the director of the Office of Budget Management, a high-profile position that oversaw the design and implementation of the state’s multi-million dollar budget. He also oversaw the state’s facilities, as well as state employee pensions and fleet services. Cade served in that role for three years under then-Gov. Carney.

Cade had been a longtime associate of Carney, including serving as his campaign manager for the 2016 gubernatorial race. After he became governor, Carney nominated Cade to several high-profile positions, including the now-defunct Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) which later transitioned into the state’s Division of Small Business. Cade later served as the Secretary of Labor at a time.

When Carney resigned to become Wilmington’s next mayor, he planned to bring Cade with him as his chief of staff. After Cade’s arrest, he announced that he would retain some of the previous mayor’s staff as he had been “hopeful that he [could] work through this challenge” and return to work.

Ask the Digital Expert: Does Email Marketing Still Work for Businesses in Delaware?

The answer is YES! Email provides a direct line of communication with customers, allowing any size business to deliver personalized content, promote products and...

On Thursday, Carney’s office issued a statement that called Cade a valued colleague for more than 10 years and said they would welcome him back to serve the public once again.

“I am looking forward to Cerron working with me in the new city administration. Clearly, the virtues of trust and integrity are critical to our roles as public servants. Cerron has owned up to his mistakes and is being held accountable,” Carney said in a prepared statement. “He has my complete trust and confidence as we move forward in managing city government.”

 

 

 

- Advertisement -

 

 

– Digital Partners -