
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 21, 1991                   TAG: 9102210567
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FIRE TREASURER FACES EMBEZZLING CHARGE

The treasurer of the New Castle Volunteer Fire Department was charged Wednesday in connection with a $9,000 embezzlement from the department over the past two years.

Donald C. Via, 53, was arrested about 3:30 p.m. at Virginia State Police office in Salem. He was released on his own recognizance.

The investigation grew out of a routine audit started by the department in January in an effort to control expenditures. That audit uncovered some irregularities in accounts, according to several members who asked not to be named.

State police investigators arrested Via after consulting with Craig County Commonwealth's Attorney Thad Cox.

Cecil Handy, special agent in charge of investigations for the state police in Salem, declined comment on how the money was taken out of the department accounts.

by CNB