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Castle Shannon volunteer firefighter arrested, accused of stealing $130K

CASTLE SHANNON, Pa. — A Castle Shannon volunteer firefighter is accused of stealing more than $130,000 from the department and its relief association.

John Montgomery, 76, was arrested when he turned himself in to police Thursday morning. He is charged with theft by unlawful taking and misapplication of entrusted property and property of government or financial institutions.

In December 2017, an investigation was launched into the Castle Shannon Volunteer Firemen's Relief Association after an audit was conducted. The association was accused of mismanaging nearly a quarter-million dollars.

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According to a criminal complaint, Montgomery admitted to stealing the money between 2013 and 2017, and said that he might have been taking money from the bank account as far back as 2010.

Lawyers for the Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department said Mongomery pilfered what could be as much as $200,000 from a savings account that he was in charge of and was basically funded by the community.

The Fire Department stands by its claim that it did nothing wrong and hopes the community continues to support it.

Montgomery told investigators that he paid about $50,000 back into the account, the complaint said.

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