February 16, 2018
ARREST MADE IN LAWRENCE COUNTY THEFT INVESTIGATION
Ashland, Ky. (February 16, 2018) – In May 2017 the Kentucky State Police Post 14 in Ashland began an investigation into a reported theft of funds from the Fallsburg Fire Department.
During the course of the investigation it was determined William Hall, Acting Chief of Fallsburg Fire Department at the time of the theft, had used department funds for personal gain.
Between March 2016 and May 2017 funds totaling over $5,000 had been removed from the Fallsburg Fire Department account and used by Hall.
Evidence was collected which resulted in Trooper Forest Newsome obtaining arrest warrants for William Hall.
William Hall, age 45, of Louisa, KY was located and arrested by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Mason Keefer on February 15, 2018. Hall was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center and charged with the following:
* Theft by Failure to Make Required Disp. Of Property $5,000<
* Abuse of Public Trust < $10,000
The investigation remains ongoing by Trooper Forest Newsome Unit 762.
Hall has since been released on an undisclosed bond amount.
Fallsburg VFD is ‘like a family’
By Tane’ Woods Mosley
After visiting the Fire Department for their 40 year celebration, it was clear and stated that they were more than a Volunteer FD, they were a family.
Lawrence County Clerk Chris Jobe, who has taken over as Fire Chief after the investigation into theft of department funds began, said as much during the group’s 40 year anniversary celebration more than a year ago.
Jobe isn’t new to the job. He was Fire Chief for 20 plus years before Hall took his place.
Jobe stated that he had dreaded this day since the investigation into missing funds began. “This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through,” Jobe said today.
Although it isn’t clear how long the other members of the fire department have known about the case, the revelation and arrest has devastated many of them who have strived to keep a good name in the small community.
