GOLDEN, Colo. — A man charged with impersonating a firefighter in order to steal gear from Colo. crews during a wildfire last month has turned himself in on similar charges.
Michael Maher, 30, turned himself in to Jefferson County officials Friday afternoon, according to The Associated Press.
He is being held on suspicion of felony theft, felony criminal impersonation, and a misdemeanor charge of impersonating a public servant at the Lower North Fork fire west of Denver in March.
The fresh allegations were made when police searched Maher’s home and vehicle after he was suspected of impersonating a firefighter at the High Park fire in Larimer County last month.
Authorities said they found firefighting gear that was issued but never returned during the Lower North Fork fire.
David M. Beller, Maher’s attorney, said his client has cooperated fully including inviting investigators into his home and allowing them to take inventory and possession of “any item they believed would assist in the investigation,” according to The Denver Post.
He added Maher was “remorseful and humiliated” for what he has done.
“He truly wanted to help fire authorities and thought he could,” Beller said. “He now realizes that his decisions could have potentially caused more harm than good and he regrets these decisions.”