Accused of theft, former Delmont VFD members vow to fight charges in court
Four former members accused of stealing money from the Delmont Volunteer Fire Department waived their rights to preliminary hearings Monday, though their attorneys vowed to fight the charges in court.
Former fire Chief Logan Clark, 35; his wife, Heather, 35; former fire department treasurer Jason G. Thomas, 37; and Timothy Bucciarelli, 59, are charged with theft for allegedly using department funds for personal benefit. A review of nearly four years of department finances led to allegations that the group misspent $60,000, according to complaints filed by Westmoreland County Detective Paul Burkey.
Thomas is accused of an additional count of access device fraud for allegedly using a department credit card for purchases that were for personal benefit, according to court documents.
“I can tell you that Mr. and Mrs. Clark adamantly maintain they did absolutely nothing wrong. We’re going to let the discovery process play out and challenge this in Common Pleas court,” said Greensburg attorney Adam Long, who is representing the couple.
The hearings were scheduled before Export District Judge Charles R. Conway.
Logan Clark is accused of spending $341 to buy Pittsburgh Pirates tickets from Emmanuel Reformed Church UCC. Burkey alleges Clark attended the game with Bucciarelli, Thomas and two former VFD presidents, who are not charged.
Heather Clark, a former member of the ladies auxiliary, is accused of receiving and cashing a $1,000 check for working a bingo fundraiser benefiting the department in December 2016.
Bucciarelli, 60, also denies any wrongdoing, according to his attorney, T. Brent McCune of Pittsburgh. Burkey alleges that Bucciarelli cashed department checks totalling $9,275 for personal benefit.
“My client maintains he is innocent of these charges and everything he did was for the benefit of the department,” McCune said.
McCune said attorneys are waiting for some of the “paperwork” and copies of the checks to be provided during the discovery process in order to challenge the complaint.
Thomas’ attorney, Matthew R. Schimizzi of Greensburg, said his client maintains his right to challenge the charges in court.
“I have no further comment at this time,” Schimizzi said.
Thomas, former fire department treasurer, is accused of cashing $45,885 in checks from department funds for personal benefit and making additional charges on a fire department credit card. Burkey accused Thomas of using the money to make personal payments on a Ford F-150, cell phone bills, vehicle repairs, three Apple iPads and purchases on Amazon.
Each of the officers were removed from their capacities with the department in early 2017 during the investigation.
The four former fire department members remain free on signature bond.
Current fire department officers have declined to comment on the alleged thefts while the cases are in litigation.
Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ppeirce_trib.
