August 21, 2014 at 11:21 a.m.
Tomahawk woman accused of stealing funds from Little Rice Volunteer Fire Department
Former treasurer allegedly took more than $2,300
Tomahawk woman accused of stealing funds from Little Rice Volunteer Fire Department
Reginamarie R. Reimert, 33, of Tomahawk, appeared via video from the Oneida County jail on a felony charge of misconduct in office/acting in excess of authority and misdemeanor theft. Branch II Judge Michael Bloom heard the case.
The criminal complaint alleges the diversion of funds occurred between October 2013 and April 2014.
According to an investigator's report attached to the criminal complaint, the Little Rice Town Board asked Reimert for the fire department's financial records in October 2013 after suspicions were raised about the state of the account.
When she turned over the paperwork on April 23, the town treasurer and a local resident who is an accountant audited the records and found "several concerning issues."
Town Chairman Steven Margitan then contacted the Oneida County Sheriff's Office.
Margitan told the investigator about three incidents the town found troubling:
• On Oct. 28, 2013, Reimert allegedly made a phone transfer of $1,000 from an account belonging to the fire department to an account in her husband's name.
• On March 19, 2014, Reimert allegedly withdrew $1,080 in cash from the department account for use for the department fundraiser raffle held in conjunction with the town picnic. When Reimert turned in the financial records, only $140 was in the sealed envelope identified as containing those funds along with some checks; $940 was allegedly missing from those funds.
• Reimert is alleged to have made a total of $85.66 in unauthorized charges to the fire department credit card for a hotel and food for herself and her husband while attending the state fire convention. The couple had been given a $500 stipend that was supposed to be used for that purpose, according to the complaint.
The Little Rice Town Board met Wednesday, Aug. 6, to hear what the investigator had learned in the matter. The board told the investigator that Reimert had paid a total of $1,385.66 to the town in cashier's checks but she had not repaid the $940 missing from the raffle tickets.
The board then voted to refer the matter to the Oneida County District Attorney for legal action.
Reimert and her father-in-law, who was the acting fire chief, have resigned from the department. Her husband and his father have denied any knowledge of Reimert's alleged illegal activity, according to the report.
Citing her strong ties to the area and the fact that she voluntarily turned herself into the sheriff's department once she learned of the warrant for her arrest, Oneida County District Attorney Michael Schiek recommended Reimert be released on a modest signature bond.
Bloom agreed and set a $2,500 signature bond.
Reimert will be back in court at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, for an adjourned initial appearance.
If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of three years, six months in prison on the felony charge and nine months in jail on the misdemeanor count.
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