A Lackawanna County judge scheduled the trial of a former fire official charged with stealing nearly $400,000 from the Greenwood Hose Company 1 for July 8.
Judge Michael Barrasse issued the order for William Sweeney after a pretrial conference Friday morning.
Mr. Sweeney, 36, of Moosic, is the former president of the volunteer fire department and a member of Moosic Borough Council. He was charged in April with one count each of theft by unlawful taking and forgery.
Police say he stole $395,811 from the hose company between Sept. 19, 2006, and Jan. 13 by writing checks to himself or a business he owns. The alleged thefts were uncovered in February after members of the department reviewed bank statements based on a complaint by a vendor who had not been paid.
Jason Mills, current president of the fire company, said the department hopes to recover $100,000 of the lost funds from an insurance company that provided a bond for Mr. Sweeney. No claim has been filed for the money pending resolution of the criminal case, Mr. Mills said.
Mr. Mills said the department is also continuing to work to restore its tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service, which it lost in 2011 because of Mr. Sweeney's failure to file reports that list the company's expenditures and receipts for several years. Mr. Mills said the department is working with U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, Moosic, to resolve that matter.
Mr. Sweeney remains a member of Moosic council, according to Borough Manager Jane Sterling, though he has not attended council meetings since January, according to council meeting minutes.
Contact the writer: tbesecker@ timesshamrock.com