Jan. 26--A Clovis Fire Department training officer who admitted to embezzling union funds has resigned but remains under investigation.
In a search warrant filed by Clovis police, John Watson, 37, of Visalia, admitted to taking about $56,000 from the Clovis Firefighters Association over six of the 10 years he served as treasurer.
Watson told investigators, according to the search warrant, that he took the money because of personal hardship but borrowed about $60,900 from his parents to repay the union's treasury.
The city's database said Watson's salary was $107,929 last year.
His lawyer, Joe Altschule, said Watson's wife had been hospitalized without income, which created financial problems for the couple.
"He made some really bad choices, had access to association money, and he used it, and he never should have done it," Altschule said.
One payment has been made to the firefighters' association, and a second payment that will restore the union's account fully is being negotiated with the association's lawyers, Altschule said.
An exact loss has not been determined, but police say in the search warrant that the association lost $80,000 to $150,000.
But Altschule estimates that $150,000 to $160,000 was taken.
"I know and he knows [paying back the money] doesn't excuse what he did," Altschule said. "Things happen that cause people to do foolish things, and he knows criminal charges are a possibility."
The association's lawyer, Tom Sharpe, said he could not comment on Watson's case.
City officials say Watson resigned Jan. 17.
Because the theft was not from city funds and Watson paid into his pension over the 12 years he worked for the city, he could still qualify for a pension, officials said.
The case is still under investigation by Clovis police.
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6166.
Copyright 2012 - The Fresno Bee, Calif.
