Soldier fire chief arrested in connection with felony theft
Crime alleged to have occurred when White was treasurer of Soldier Ball Association
The chief of the Soldier Fire Department in Jackson County has been arrested in connection with embezzlement, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.
Ryan White, 45, of Soldier, was arrested Sunday on a Jackson County District Court warrant for two felony counts of theft and five counts of misdemeanor theft, Morse said in a news release.
Charges were officially filed late last week, said Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller.
White served as the treasurer of the Soldier Ball Association in 2012 and 2013, and the crimes allegedly occurred during that time period, Morse said.
It is alleged White wrote two ball association checks totaling more than $1,000 each to his own business account. It also is alleged he took association funds without authorization on five different occasions.
The sheriff’s office served a search warrant on White’s residence in Soldier on Oct. 8.
Subpoenas were served to obtain his bank records, too.
Discrepancies in the association’s accounting led to an investigation by the sheriff’s office, Morse and Miller said.
White quickly posted a $15,000 bond Sunday after his arrest.
White in May was listed as serving as one of the directors of the Jackson County Fair Association.
It wasn’t known Tuesday evening whether White remains the Soldier fire chief. Calls to Soldier Fire District No. 2 and to White’s home went unanswered Tuesday afternoon.