By Janet Kelley
Lancaster Online
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A former Warwick Community Ambulance Association official pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing nearly half a million dollars in agency funds.
James A. Reynolds — the association’s former general manager, executive manager and treasurer — used some of the money for personal family expenses, prosecutors said, but used most of it to pursue his dream of owning a hunting supply business.
On Tuesday, Reynolds, 40, of the 2800 block of Marietta Avenue, pleaded guilty to unlawful activity and six counts of theft.
Assistant District Attorney Charles Rieck IV said Reynolds owed $497,941 restitution for the money he misused between January 2008 and July 2009.
Police said Reynolds used the stolen money to buy guns, ammunition, hunting equipment, jet skis, dog-training items and clothing.
The price of the purchases ranged from a few hundred to several thousands of dollars, police said.
Lancaster County Court Judge Margaret Miller ordered a background investigation on Reynolds before she imposes sentence at a later date.
Reynolds, along with attorneys on both sides of the case and representatives of the ambulance association, indicated that they would all save their comments until the time of sentencing.
“He does understand and appreciate the consequences of his actions,” defense attorney Paula Burke told Miller on Tuesday.
Burke added that her client wants the matter handled as “expeditiously as possible,” and, along with his family, is already working “to begin returning money to his victims.”
Lititz police Detective John Schofield, who investigated the case, said at the time of arrest that Reynolds used the ambulance association’s debit and credit cards, wrote checks to himself and made online purchases.
In addition, Schofield said, Reynolds used nearly $48,000 to pay off personal loans.
When other members of the ambulance association questioned the missing money, according to police, Reynolds blamed it on the bad economy.
But the ambulance association’s board of directors brought in an outside accountant, who reviewed the books, discovered the discrepancies and called police.
Reynolds has been in Lancaster County Prison since his arrest last September. Burke told the judge she would be requesting a reduction in bail.
Republished with permission from LancasterOnline.com