Foster’s Daily Democrat
DOVER, N.H. — A former Farmington Fire Chief pleaded guilty in Strafford County Superior Court Wednesday to stealing money from the town he served. He was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in state prison and ordered to pay back more than $216,000 in restitution.
Richard Fowler, 48, of Skowhegan, Maine, admitted to misdirecting funds while employed as Farmington’s Fire Chief for about five and half years until he left in 2014 to become fire chief in Skowhegan, Maine. He was fired from that position about three months later.
The money he stole came from payments made by Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester to the fire department to compensate the town for paramedic services. Instead of depositing money into the department’s account, Fowler illegally diverted money to the non-profit Farmington Firefighter Relief Fund account, which he oversaw. He used some money to buy equipment for the department the town did not fund. Most of the money went to personal uses, like aiding his gambling and drug addictions.
The agreement with Frisbie started in 2008. For the next year, said Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi, the checks were deposited as expected. Beginning in November of 2009, Fowler began intermittently depositing the checks into the Firefighters Relief account fund with the other deposit going back to the town. From October 2010 to June 2014, when Fowler left his position to take a job with Skowhegan, Maine, all of the checks went into the Firefighters Relief account. It was soon after Fowler left that town officials uncovered discrepancies.
In total, Velardi said about $270,000 was diverted from town accounts. About $54,000 of the monies were spent on equipment for the fire department, such a defibrillators for the department, which the town currently uses. As part of the negotiated plea, the money spent on town equipment was subtracted from the restitution payments Fowler owes.
“Those items have benefited the town of Farmington,” Velardi said.
Farmington Police Chief John Drury addressed the court during the sentencing. He said he was devastated when he learned of the accusations against Fowler.
“I’ve known Rich for a very long time,” he said.
He said the two had worked together in many challenging emergency calls. Drury credited Fowler for helping foster trust between the police and fire departments, which still continues.
“I knew if I got into trouble, he would save my life,” Drury said.
Fowler sobbed briefly as Drury spoke.
“He did a lot for this town,” Drury said. “This action, I hope, won’t define his life.”
After Drury spoke, Fowler addressed the court.
“I am not here to ask for sympathy,” he said. “I’m not about hurting people. In my 30-plus years, I saved lives. That’s what I did.”
He apologized to the town, the fire department, family and friends that he hurt and let down because of his actions.
He said his life became challenging when was involved in a bad car crash. For his pain, he was prescribed medication.
“Even since then, it’s been struggle for me,” he said of his addiction to narcotics. He said he also developed posttraumatic stress disorder from some of the calls he had been on throughout his 30-year career that he didn’t properly address.
“I had the best job in the world in the best community in New Hampshire and I really messed it up,” he told Judge Peter Fauver.
Fauver said most people that come before him in these situations have done something violent or heartless.
“You’re an exception to that rule,” Fauver said. He approved the plea agreement. He urged Fowler to use his time in prison to be a role model to other prisoners and help others with his knowledge and experience.
“It’s something that you can give back,” Fauver said. “Good luck to you sir.”
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