SMETHPORT – Former Bradford car dealer Philip C. Bauschard is
forbidden by law to ever own a car dealership again as part of his
sentence imposed Thursday in McKean County Court.

Bauschard, 59, was sentenced to two years of probation and fined
$15,000 for 11 counts of misappropriation of funds and one count of
theft by failure to make required disposition of funds for
misappropriating more than $190,000 from his car dealership in 2004
and 2005.

“This is not a victimless crime,” said Assistant District
Attorney Scott Klein. “A significant amount of the victims had
problems with their credit history.”

Bauschard had not been paying off vehicles that were traded in
at his dealership, but was making payments on them instead. Some
vehicles were double financed and other vehicles had been sold
again before they were paid off from the first trade in, according
to state police at the time Bauschard was charged.

Klein also said that Bauschard had already made full
restitution. Bauschard’s attorney, Robert Saunders, said his client
“took this debt upon himself.”

Saunders asked for no fine to be imposed, saying Bauschard now
has tremendous debt.

“There’s a number of people here prepared to testify on behalf
of Mr. Bauschard,” he said, gesturing toward two rows filled with
influential people from the Bradford community. None of them came
forward to testify, but apparently several people had previously
written letters to the judge in support of Bauschard.

Saunders also lauded Bauschard’s community involvement and
charitable work, and added that making up for his financial
mistakes will “probably take him the rest of his life.”

Bauschard read a letter he’d prepared to express his feelings on
the matter.

“This is not to be considered as an excuse. I was subjected to a
series of unexpected financial obligations,” he said. “I’ve tried
to be honest and trustworthy in a business that doesn’t have the
best reputation.

“I’ve tried my best not to have my actions impact my customers,”
Bauschard said. “I’m very sorry I caused anyone harm.

“I will never be able to recover from what I’ve lost,” he said,
adding that he still has his family, his faith and his health.

Judge John Yoder agreed, saying, “You’ve lost your business,
your good reputation and will be prohibited by law from ever owning
a car dealership again.”

Yoder added that a fine was appropriate in the case, and imposed
a fine of $1,250 at each count.