Treasurer Charged With Stealing From North Carolina Fire Department

The former treasurer of a North Carolina volunteer fire department has been charged with stealing over $48,000 from the department. Kimberly Hutchens Reeves is facing felony larceny charges for her alleged theft from the Pearce’s Mill Fire Department.

Reeves served as treasurer and secretary of Pearce’s Mill from July, 2021 until earlier this year. According to the Fayetteville Observer, she reportedly wrote unauthorized checks and e-checks to herself over that period of time. She also made a number of unauthorized cash withdrawals.

An audit discovered the theft, and the matter was turned over the to Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Reeves was subsequently dismissed for the fire department. More on the story.

If this fact pattern sounds familiar – check out Kelly Paxton’s web site on Pink Collar Crime. Cases like this are not isolated nor uncommon.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 40 years of fire service experience and 30 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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