Lehigh Valley fire chief charged in theft of $47K from volunteer company

A former Northampton County fire chief has been charged with stealing more than $47,000 from the department.

Jon E. Mann, 46, of Danielsville, who had been chief with Moore Township’s Klecknersville Rangers Fire Company, has been charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, both felonies, court records show.

He was arraigned Thursday by District Judge Robert A. Hawke and released on $50,000 bail, pending a preliminary hearing.

Township police began investigating a theft from the Klecknersville

Rangers in October, according to Mann’s attorney, Gary N. Asteak. Police allege Mann used a debit card that was linked to the fire department’s debit account for personal purchases, including a bulldozer, and ATM cash withdrawals.

Asteak said Mann has fully cooperated with authorities since the beginning of the investigation.

“Arrangements have been made to resolve the case to the satisfaction of everyone,” Asteak said.

Mann was relieved of his status as fire chief during the police investigation.

On Friday, the fire company, through its solicitor, Neil

Ettinger, issued a statement saying its members are “deeply saddened” by Mann’s alleged actions.

“It is our understanding that full restitution will be made based on the former fire chief ’s cooperation and admission to the referenced conduct,” the fire company said in the statement.

“The fire company looks forward to righting a wrong and safeguarding against these types of actions, while serving the community and protecting taxpayers’ money/donations that have deprived the fire company of much-needed funding, as well as concerning the community for those donated funds for which our fire company strives to protect the community as a volunteer fire company.”

The fire company, which is a combination of volunteer and paid staff, according to its website, is overseen by Chief John Hofacker, who had been serving as acting chief.

Asteak said Mann was a third-generation firefighter and that his grandfather was also a Klecknersville Rangers chief.

“It’s just a very unfortunate situation that arose,” said Asteak, declining to elaborate. “But the fact that these charges occurred and this conduct was alleged is very unfortunate, and he has worked from the very beginning to rectify things from when the charges were first alleged.”