Texas Chief and Wife Plead Guilty to Embezzlement
The former fire chief of a Texas volunteer fire department pled guilty to embezzling $20,000 from the department. So did his wife.
Ernest Roland Chapman and his wife, Donna Kay Chapman, pled guilty this week to the charges in 42nd District Court. Chief Chapman was the fire chief of the Novice Volunteer Fire Department, and his wife served as secretary.
The department has since changed its name to the Rough Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
Police allege the couple stole roughly $30,000, but the exact amount appears to be in dispute. The plea deal includes an 8 year prison sentence for both defendants that is deferred pending repayment of $20,000. District Attorney Heath Hemphill reportedly told reporters that he would prefer to see the stolen proceeds repaid than see the Chapmans sit in jail.
I would like to comment on the above article. I am Donna Chapman and my husband and I did not pled GUILTY to anything. We were forced to plea no contest, and agreed on the $ sum. In our defense we did not take a penny that was not ours from the department; further more to this date 3-27-13, my husband is still the chief of record with the Secretary of the State of Texas for the Rough Creek Volunteer Fire Department! The powers that be in this ignorant community, have NEVER been nor or they Presently in compliance with federal and state laws. The last chief that my husband replaced was accused of theft, but nothing was ever done to him or the previous secretary, as they were part of the "good ole boy's club". Thanks for the opportunity to express the truth as I know it to be.
Donna
Thank you for posting here at Fire Law. Can you offer any lessons learned to the readers out there who may be concerned with the same charges being falsely brought against them?
Were other fire department members out to "get" you, was it a misunderstanding with law enforcement… what prompted the police to begin looking into the matter… and what factors made it impossible for you to defend yourselves in court?
Just curious, you state "that you and your husband did not take a penny that was not ours from the department". If I am not mistaken, any donations to the department, belong to the department as a whole. Also, any ESD tax money used by the department, would have to be accounted for. I am not saying that the previous Chief was any better or worse than your husband. But I do know two wrongs don't make a right.