The former general manager of the Baltimore Blast will face no additional prison time despite violating the probation he was under for having stolen money from the professional soccer team, a Baltimore County Circuit Court judge ruled Thursday.

Gianni Tumminello, 50, who had been convicted in June of theft from the team, was found to have violated a protective order in a separate domestic violence case, which in turn led to a violation of the probation he had received in the Blast case.

On Thursday, Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Andrew M. Battista, who had previously sentenced Tumminello to 10 years in prison, suspending all but the time previously served, continued the three years of probation he had also given him. But he ordered no additional jail time beyond the 11 days Tumminello already served in the Blast and violation of a protective order cases.

The decision irked Blast owner Ed Hale, the founder and former CEO of First Mariner Bank, who attended the hearing but was not allowed to give a victim’s impact statement as he had when Tumminello was convicted on one count of theft for between $25,000 and $100,000 from the team.

“I’ve never seen anything like this, how he can walk the streets after all he’s done,” Hale said after the hearing. “It’s a mystery to me.”

Battista said during the hearing that Tumminello was employed and he didn’t want “to screw that up,” and reminded him that among the conditions of his probation was that he continue taking his medications.

Tumminello told the judge he was diagnosed with bipolar II, borderline personality disorder, depression and anxiety and took three medications. His attorney said his client had been treated at Sheppard Pratt and continued to receive therapy regularly.

Baltimore County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael DeStefano said in an email after the hearing that he didn’t request additional jail time because Tumminello had paid restitution in the Blast case and was “otherwise a good and compliant probationer. Putting him in jail didn’t seem to serve any purpose other than retribution.”

Tumminello had showed up at his June trial with a $100,000 check for restitution.

Hale’s attorney, Warren S. Alperstein, argued unsuccessfully Thursday that Hale should be heard on how he continues to be harmed by Tumminello’s acts.

“It’s opening up old wounds,” Alperstein said. “It causes additional stress.”

Battista said he might have allowed a victim’s statement if Tumminello “had gone to a Blast game or done something directly to Mr. Hale.” But, he said, Tumminello’s violaton of the protective order “has absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Hale.”

In September, Tumminello was convicted in Harford County District Court of violating a protective order that a former girlfriend had against him and received a 90-day sentence, all of which was suspended except for time already served, and 18 months of probation, court records show. The violation stemmed from a traffic incident in June involving Tumminello and his ex-girlfriend. Tumminello’s attorney described it Thursday as a “random” encounter that occurred after a distraught Tumminello learned there was no chance that the one-time relationship could be rekindled.

Tumminello had originally been charged with six counts of theft from the Blast, which Hale characterized as a personal betrayal. Hale has described how Tumminello had driven him to the hospital for cancer surgery then went straight to the office to steal and forge checks. Hale, whose long career has including has work in development, shipping, trucking and according to his biography, the CIA, previously estimated the amount his former employee had stolen could be as much as $500,000.

Tumminello resigned from the Blast in April 2023. He was not replaced, said Hale.

“I’m the general manager,” he said.

Have a news tip? Contact Jean Marbella at jmarbella@baltsun.com.