A Northampton County fire chief has been charged with stealing more than $47,000 from the department.
Jon E. Mann, 46, of Danielsville, chief of Moore Township’s Klecknersville Rangers Fire Company, was charged Thursday with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, both felonies, court records show.
He was arraigned by District Judge Robert A. Hawke and released on $50,000 bail, pending a preliminary hearing.
Township police began investigating a theft from the Klecknersville Rangers in October, according to Mann’s attorney, Gary N. Asteak. Police allege Mann used a debit card that was linked to the fire department’s debit account for personal purchases, including a bulldozer, and ATM cash withdrawals.
Asteak said Mann has fully cooperated with authorities since the beginning of the investigation.
“Arrangements have been made to resolve the case to the satisfaction of everyone,” Asteak said.
Mann’s status with the department is unclear. Asteak said Mann was a third-generation firefighter and that his grandfather was also a Klecknersville Rangers chief.
“It’s just a very unfortunate situation that arose,” said Asteak, declining to elaborate. “But the fact that these charges occurred and this conduct was alleged is very unfortunate, and he has worked from the very beginning to rectify things from when the charges were first alleged.”
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