Roy Patterson, the former Tewksbury Recreation director, was back in Lowell District Court on Wednesday, Jan. 30

Patterson who faces one count of larceny under $250 and violation of the conflict-of-interest law, appeared for a pretrial conference, according to an article appearing in the Lowell Sun.

Patterson is scheduled to be back in court again on March 27 and, if a plea bargain cannot be reached, a trial date would be set at that time, according to the article.

Patterson was originally arraigned back in September.

Patterson and his assistant, Lauren Bibo-Morris, were fired by Town Manager Richard Montuori two years ago after irregularities were discovered in Recreation Department finances.

Investigators allege Bibo-Morris embezzled more that $52,000 in 2009-2010, largely to finance a prescription drug habit. She was arraigned on two counts of larceny over $250 and is presently free personal recognizance pending her next court date.

Patterson is accused of adding hours not worked to the time cards of certain employess and using cash generated from that to pay employees not legally hired by the town. One of these people was Patterson's son, who had been barred from Recreation Department grounds.