Ex-firefighter pleads not guilty to embezzling funds

ZANESVILLE – A 27-year-old former firefighter accused of embezzling up to $1.5 million from his department pleaded not guilty to 16 charges.

Adam L. Siddle, 27, a former Washington Township fireman, entered the plea Monday morning in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, nearly two weeks after his arrest and indictment. He was represented by defense attorney Jeremy McLendon.

Siddle remained emotionless during the proceeding and did not speak on his own behalf. His parents and wife were in court, McLendon said.

He is being held at the Muskingum County jail on a $500,000 bond. But McLendon asked Judge Mark Fleegle to release Siddle on his own recognizance, saying he is a lifelong county resident, Tri-Valley High School graduate and is expecting a second child.

Further, McLendon argued, "He's well aware of the investigation, he's known about it a long time, and he hasn't made any attempts to flee."

But the state contended that the amount of money he allegedly stole should be reason enough to maintain bond.

"Public outcry to this type of crime warrants bond be maintained as previously set," said Assistant Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Anderson.

Fleegle said he would consider the matter before making a ruling on bond modification.

Siddle was indicted by a Muskingum County grand jury on 16 charges related to the theft. Siddle turned himself in to the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 24 after officials with the volunteer fire department learned of a past due loan payment.

He faces two counts of theft, second-degree felonies; nine counts of telecommunications fraud, second-degree felonies; one count of money laundering, a third-degree felony; one count of forgery, a fourth-degree felony; and three counts of forgery, fifth-degree felonies.

He could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted, said Sheriff Matt Lutz during a conference on Monday.

Siddle is accused of embezzling the money from the fire department between April 19, 2009, and Sept. 29, 2014, according to his indictment. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation handled the initial investigation.

The indictment also alleges that on 12 different occasions between May 1 and Sept. 19, Siddle forged checks payable to his business, Siddle Transport Inc., drawn on the fire department's bank account. That money totaled $62,107.14.

Siddle, who joined the fire department in 2004, had been the president of the administrative office and the assistant chief since 2009.

Officials with the department had been notified of his alleged actions after learning of a late mortgage payment from the bank that was fraudulently obtained. Siddle confessed that day and was immediately dismissed from the department, Susan McDonald, attorney for the fire department, previously told the Times Recorder.

elagatta@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

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Twitter: @EricLagatta