Fire district official arrested
Published 1:07 pm Thursday, February 25, 2016
A member of the Washington Parish Fire Protection District 6 Board of Commissioners was arrested recently, after an audit showed he used his position to steal more than $120,000 from the district.
Mike Haley, chief deputy of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, said that Timothy Duncan, 52, of Martin Road in Angie, surrendered to the WPSO on Thursday. He is charged with theft of more than $1,500, malfeasance in office, public contact fraud, forgery, filing or maintaining false public records, and prohibited splitting of profits, fees or commissions.
DUNCAN
Bond was set for Duncan and he was released later that day after posting a $20,000 cash bond.
Haley said that WPSO detectives were investigating allegations of financial mismanagement within the Washington Parish Fire Protection District 6, and referred the matter to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. The auditor then conducted an audit of the district’s financial records.
On Wednesday, Feb. 17, the audit report was released. The audit concluded that Duncan, a member of the Fire District’s Board of Commissioners, used his position to improperly direct public funds totaling $128,083 to himself and his family members from March 14, 2012 to Aug. 31, 2015.
The audit summary concluded, “By using his position with the District to direct public funds to himself and his family members, falsifying District records, and billing the District for services that were unnecessary and/or not performed, Mr. Duncan may have violated state laws.”
After a review of the audit, a warrant was obtained for Duncan’s arrest.
“Being in a position of public trust always carries an added responsibility to do what is right,” Sheriff Randy Seal said. “The Sheriff’s Office shares in that responsibility and also must do what is right, whether it is arresting an unknown person or arresting a friend.
“Unfortunately, any person who chooses to violate the law must be willing to face the consequences. I appreciate the hard work of our investigators and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor in this matter.”