Tuesday, January 17, 2012 Allegheny County police have filed charges against the former treasurer of the Crafton Volunteer Fire Department as a result of an investigation into his apparent misuse of funds.

Police last week charged Richard Crown, 44, of Crafton with four counts of forgery and one count each of receiving stolen property and theft. Crown is scheduled to appear before District Judge Dennis R. Joyce on Thursday. He is free on $1,000 bond.

A criminal complaint for the charges was not immediately available on Monday because judicial offices were closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. It is unclear how much money Crown is accused of taking. He could not be reached for comment.

"Do I know (how much)? I do know, but I'm not at liberty to discuss that," said Crafton Mayor James Bloom, a retired police officer who serves as vice president of the fire department. "What I can say is that the investigation started in July and was turned over to the county police."

Crown was removed from his post as treasurer of the fire department in July after police began their investigation.

Crown resigned as manager in Rochester in July, a week after being hired. That resignation occurred about three months after he left his job as manager in Jackson, where officials said he took about $25,000 from a township account and then returned it to avoid criminal prosecution.

Read more: Former Crafton fire company treasurer charged - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_776901.html#ixzz1jjZvX5zV