AL Fire Chief Convicted of Stealing Department Funds

April 12 — A 44-year-old Blount County fire chief has been convicted of cashing checks from the Summit Fire Department and depositing the money into her personal bank account.

A jury found Paula Robertson guilty of first-degree theft, said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey. Roberts was arrested in 2016 and charged with converting more than $2,500 of public funds for personal use while serving as fire chief.

According to authorities, Robertson wrote checks out to "cash" and/or withdrew cash from fire department accounts and/or used fire department accounts to pay personal household expenses.

She has continued to work at the department since her arrest two years ago. The Summit Fire Department began operations in 1980, and serves more than 500 households in that community.

Deputy State Fire Marshall Patrick Crockett obtained warrants for Robertson after receiving a tip from a volunteer firefighter. Based on the volunteer's tip, Crockett obtained and reviewed Robertson's bank statements as well as the fire department's financial records.

Robertson will be sentenced and have a restitution hearing at a later date, Casey said. In the meantime, the trial court has restricted Robertson from having any contact with the Summit Volunteer and Rescue Department.

"I appreciate the jury's verdict. This is the second case resolved this week involving theft of public funds from a volunteer fire department here in Blount County,'' Casey said Thursday.

On Monday, 50-year-old Michael Claude Watson, a previous chief at the Bangor Volunteer Fire Department, pleaded guilty to two felony crimes on 2013 charges of using public funds in excess of $2,500. Watson paid for cell phone and internet service for family members and converting $1,476.00 in public funds to personal use while serving as fire chief.

"I know the actions of the two individuals involved in these matters are not reflective of the good character of the dozens of men and women in our communities who volunteer their time to serve as fire fighters and emergency medical personnel,'' Casey said "I also want to commend the individuals in each case who referred these matters to law enforcement for prosecution. I know it is not always easy to step forward and report public corruption. But, it is the right thing to do."

___

(c)2018 Alabama Media Group, Birmingham Visit Alabama Media Group, Birmingham at www.al.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.