Ex-official
charged in alleged theft
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| By:
Shawn Charniga |
October
17, 2002 |
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William L. Austin, 62, of 10 Springbook Rd., for
30 years superintendent of utilities and water,
was charged with third-degree grand larceny and
first-degree falsifying of business records by
State Police Investigator Paul Overdorf.
Austin has retained Albany attorney Brian Premo
for his defense. He pleaded not guilty during
his arraignment in Town Court Wednesday.
Authorities claim the former town employee, who
retired in July, ordered cases of products
including insecticides, weed killers, drain
openers and cleaning supplies for town use and
had them delivered to his home.
About 60 cases of products, worth over $12,000,
were allegedly found by state police at Austin's
home.
...
Officials assembled invoices and canceled checks
from 1996 and later, finding about $54,000 worth
of supplies had been ordered from Bulkhead and
delivered to Austin's home,....
...
After his arrest his client agreed to cooperate,
gave a full statement to state police and turned
over all suspect items, Premo said. He did not
have an inventory of what was turned over, but
said he would accept whatever police said was
there.
Premo did not answer when asked if Austin simply
forgot to turn over the products during the four
months following his retirement.
Austin's annual salary for the appointed
position was about $43,000 plus health benefits,
Herrington said. He was aware of no other
incidents involving the former building
inspector.
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Philip A. Vanno contributed to this report.
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Submitted by: Werner Hetzner
Source: Troy Record 10/17/02
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