Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
An inactive volunteer firefighter who was battling lung cancer has been sentenced to 35 days in prison for the theft of $8,900 worth of fuel.
Cathlamet, Washington Fire Department firefighter Karl V. Moody, 52, and his wife Lisa R. Moody, 54, purchased fuel using a fire department gas card for more than two years before they were caught. The card had been taken from one of the department’s vehicles.
Karl Moody pled guilty to felony theft in the second-degree, while Lisa pled guilty to a reduced charge of third degree theft. She will not have to serve any time in jail. Because of his medical condition, Karl Moody will be allowed to serve his sentence in five-day stretches.
The couple must make restitution, and according to news reports have already repaid $6,000.
Perhaps the biggest concern was how did the theft go unnoticed for as long as it did. That question created a public rift between the fire department leadership and the mayor, George Wehrfritz.
Last October, Wehrfritz released a public statement about the case saying: “This case represents a betrayal of public trust, but also failure on the part of fire department commanders and our town’s elected leaders – and I include myself here – to properly oversee the financial management of the department. A comprehensive overhaul is called for, and we will begin without delay.” He has since placed the town treasurer in charge of all fire department financial matters.
