American Township -
A former American Township Fire Lieutenant faces theft charges after allegedly taking funds from the fire company's union.
40 year old Jason Belton entered a written plea of not guilty to grand theft. Belton is accused of taking at least $7,500 from the American Township Fire Company Local 4020 between July of 2006 and February of 2012. Chief Tom Hadding says the missing money is all out of union accounts and no money from the township is missing.
Hadding says the discrepancies were found on February 17th, and Belton was immediately put on paid administrative leave. He resigned on February 28th after eight years with the Elida and American Township Fire Departments. Belton's first pre-trial in Allen County Common Pleas Court is scheduled for Wednesday morning. A request for intervention in lieu of conviction has been filed.
