Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
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MACUNGIE, Pa. — The former Macungie fire marshal and fire chief charged with repeatedly entering the borough fire station in December while no one was around and stealing a digital camera gave up his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
James Andrews, 42, of 2100 Aster Road, is charged with theft, receiving stolen property and harassment. He waived those charges into Lehigh County Court at his hearing before District Judge Donna Butler of Emmaus.
Macungie fire officials contacted police in December to report several incidents of someone entering the fire station, 31 S. Walnut St., and sometimes removing equipment and other times moving it around the building, police said. Fire officials secretly installed a camera to catch the person in the act, police said.
Andrews is free on $15,000 unsecured bail.
Andrews has been in trouble in the past. In February 2006, Andrews was ordered to serve two years of probation and pay a $500 fine after pleading guilty to simple assault and reckless endangerment for refusing to stop his sport utility vehicle for police officers, forcing them to jump out of the way.
In 2005, he was ordered to pay more than $300 in fines and legal fees after pleading guilty to harassing the owner of an automotive service shop.