Former Pa. firefighter accused of stealing

By Mary Pickels
Tribune-Review

WEST NEWTON, Pa. — A retired police officer and former West Newton firefighter who was the beneficiary of a department fundraiser after suffering a heart attack at a house fire two years ago was charged yesterday with pocketing more than $6,000 in rental fees for the fire company's events center.

Borough police Sgt. Anthony Gillingham said Andrew Richard Baran, 54, of 38 Penn St., Manor, was charged with theft, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition before West Newton District Judge Charles Christner.

Gillingham said Baran turned himself in. He is free on $10,000 unsecured bond.

Baran's arrest followed an investigation that began in September, when former fire department president Nick Sewchock reported the theft.

In mid-October, Baran confessed to taking large sums of money from the Youghiogheny Ballroom on many occasions during the past two years, Gillingham wrote in an affidavit. The fire company operates the rental hall on Riverside Drive in the borough.

"Baran confessed to committing these thefts because he was very desperate and suffering from financial difficulties," Gillingham stated in the affidavit. "Baran reported that he suffered a massive heart attack in January 2008, his wife died from cancer in November 2008, he recently lost his house to foreclosure and he is trying to raise a small child on a low monthly income received by Social Security."

Baran collapsed while at the scene of a house fire in South Huntingdon on Jan. 24, 2008. One month later, the fire company held a brunch to benefit him and his family at the Youghiogheny Ballroom.

His wife, Tina, was undergoing treatment for leukemia.

A firefighter since 1972, Baran had served with the West Newton company for more than 12 years.

Also a retired police officer, Baran said he formerly worked for police departments in Fayette City and California boroughs. In 1987, while fighting a fire in California, he slipped through the rungs on a ladder and broke his back, he said. That fall ended his police career, he said.

Baran could not be reached for comment yesterday.

In his affidavit, Gillingham stated that Baran, as former ballroom chairman, was responsible for collecting and depositing rental fees. Only partial amounts had been deposited into the bank account for events dating back to January 2008.

The complaint states that Sewchock confronted Baran earlier this year. It said that on July 14 Baran returned $1,420 in two envelopes and another $1,100 through a friend and firefighter soon after.

Gillingham said in October he interviewed current fire department president Howard Walmsley and treasurer Leah Burkett. They stated that money was missing for event deposits or per person drink fees on 12 occasions this year and last, totaling $6,702. Gillingham said each of the clients confirmed payment was made to Baran.

On Oct. 13, Gillingham said, Baran called him.

"He was crying and begging me not to put him in jail," the affidavit states.

In an Oct. 15 interview at the police station, Gillingham said, Baran confessed that he was "probably responsible" for each incident "but doesn't recall because he stole on so many occasions."

Baran faces a preliminary hearing Jan. 11 before Christner.