The 14-year-old was found delinquent of theft in juvenile court. Officials say he will remain on court supervision for six to 12 months and must return to classes at Bloomsburg Middle School.
Columbia County President Judge Scott W. Naus also told the boy's mother, Wendy Lizardi, that she must see to it that he attend the counseling program and undergo an evaluation. The mother was also charged with spending some of the stolen cash.
A principal called police Jan. 30 to report a possible theft and told investigators he got conflicting stories from Lizardi and the boy.
Police learned the boy also bought groceries for his family, gave his mother $400 to go "buy something nice" for herself and paid off another neighbor's car insurance.
Initially, Lizardi said, she believed her son had earned some of the money by performing odd jobs. She told him to "take the money back" once she found out it had been stolen, her lawyer has said.
Police managed to recover most of the stolen money, as well as items the boy purchased for others with cash. Family members paid off the balance of the restitution at Wednesday's court hearing.
