Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A New Hampshire fire chief charged with over forty theft related offenses has finally wrapped up all outstanding charges against him. Shawn Mitchell, who was a deputy chief in Concord and fire chief in Webster, pled guilty to one charge of obstructing government administration. The plea brought to an end an investigation and legal proceedings dating back to 2006.
Mitchell was charged with theft of equipment from Concord, and improper use of a Webster credit card. The equipment taken from Concord was allegedly given to the Webster Fire Department, and was not for Mitchell’s personal use. The credit card was allegedly used to buy online pornography.
Mitchell’s attorney, Mark Sisti, told reporters "Our position all along has been that he was absolutely, totally innocent of the charges with regard to the pornography, that he was absolutely, totally innocent with any attempt to maintain control over the town property. We certainly were willing to go to trial rather than take a plea on any of those charges."
Mitchell pled guilty last March to charges related to the Concord equipment, and is currently serving a six month home confinement sentence. The sentence for the plea on the obstruction charge was a one year suspended sentence, so there will be no additional time served.
