The man who had served as Nebraska State Historical Society’s second-in-command pleaded guilty Thursday morning to stealing more than $72,000 from the office.

Tony Schmitz, 49, of Lincoln withdrew his earlier not-guilty plea in the 9 a.m. hearing in Lancaster County District Court.

In exchange for his plea, the state agreed not to file any additional charges related to the theft by deception that occurred between September 2004 and April 2007.

Schmitz, who is out of jail on a $10,000 bond, faces between one and 20 years in prison when Judge John Colborn sentences him Sept. 4.

Lincoln police started investigating Schmitz, the society’s then-chief operating officer, in May 2007.

Last September, they arrested him on the allegations.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Lory Pasold said the investigation started after a loss prevention employee at Menards noticed Schmitz had been buying merchandise using Historical Society checks then returning the items two weeks later for cash refunds.

On Feb. 2, 2007, he'd bought $823 on several high-end circuit breakers. Two weeks later, he returned $657.07 of the items. Two months later, he bought a sump pump and other merchandise for $555.19 and returned much of it two weeks later.

Pasold said an audit showed he had made purchases at stores like Alltel, Best Buy, Nebraska Furniture Mart and OfficeMax using the historical society's private funds and later made returns totaling $40,786, money that never was returned to the historical society. She said he also purchased another $32,000 in items the historical society never authorized or received.

Pasold said the total loss was $72,913.54.

"Mr. Schmitz, did you commit this offense?" Colborn asked.

Schmitz looked over at his attorney, Kirk Naylor, first then said "Yes sir."

Naylor asked Colborn to give Schmitz a couple of months before sentencing, because he's working to repay restitution.

Schmitz said he currently is managing a newly opened tobacco shop in Lincoln.

When the investigation came to light, Schmitz was placed on investigatory leave. He had been with the agency for 24 years, with an annual salary of around $85,000.

Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.