By Elizabeth Evans
The York Dispatch
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — Already charged with embezzling more than $100,000 from the Goldsboro Fire Co. the owner of the Goldsboro Marina is now being charged with embezzling about the same amount from a volunteer Dauphin County fire company.
On Sept. 1, police in Dauphin County filed a third-degree felony charge of theft against Miles K. Hummer, 70, of 2509 Parkway Blvd. in Harrisburg, according to charging documents.
Hummer was treasurer of both the Goldsboro Fire Co. and the Penbrook Volunteer Fire Co. until he had a stroke earlier this year, police said.
He is expected to have a bedside arraignment on the Dauphin County charges at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Penbrook Police, who said Hummer remains in a rehabilitation facility.
Between 2005 and June, Hummer — in his position as Penbrook Fire Co. treasurer — illegally wrote 58 checks to himself and the Goldsboro Marina totaling about $112,158, charging documents allege.
His arrest affidavit states that investigators believe the thefts date back to before 2005.
In July, Newberry Township Police filed felony theft charges against Hummer, alleging he stole money from the Goldsboro Fire Co., where he was treasurer for more than 20 years, documents state.
Hummer was given unsecured bail on the Newberry Township charges.
Hospitalized: Hummer could not be reached for comment. An employee at the marina said Hummer remains hospitalized.
Goldsboro Fire Co. discovered missing money after Hummer had his stroke and the company appointed a new treasurer, his arrest affidavit states.
Since 2003, Hummer wrote checks from Goldsboro Fire Co. to his personal bank account, the marina and his cell-phone provider totaling $116,927, the affidavit states.
There were no financial records kept for Goldsboro Fire. Co. prior to 2003, so investigators could not look back any further than that year, Newberry Township Police Chief John Snyder has said.
Blank checks: Goldsboro Fire Co. requires two officers’ signatures on checks, but Hummer allegedly got around that by having fire company president Denny Lebo sign blank checks, “due to the large volume of checks that go through the fire company,” the affidavit alleges.
Snyder said Lebo had no idea Hummer was allegedly embezzling money.
Lebo has described Hummer as “a guy everybody trusted.”
Goldsboro Fire Co. isn’t in financial trouble and is current on its bills, according to Lebo, who said if it weren’t for the alleged embezzlement, the company would have already paid off its mortgage and a fire truck.
Hummer was treasurer of Penbrook’s fire company for 36 years, according to Penbrook Fire Chief Joe Nickle.
“We were very surprised ... because we trusted the man,” Nickle said. He said Penbrook Volunteer Fire Co. is not in financial straits.
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