Charles Yaeger, 28, of Freehold, pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to charges of third-degree official misconduct and third-degree theft in connection with his volunteer position at the Farmingdale-Howell First Aid Squad, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
As a result of the plea, Yaeger faces a term of up to five years’ probation conditioned upon full restitution to the first aid squad in the amount of $2,500, and forfeiture of public office, when he appears for sentencing before state Super-ior Court Judge Paul F. Chaiet, sitting in Freehold, on March 16.
According to the press release, on March 14, 2006 the New Jersey State Police received a call from the Farming-dale-Howell First Aid Squad regarding stolen supplies from the first aid office. The first aid squad representative advised police that in February 2006 the squad had purchased supplies from Lowe’s in Howell. After a few weeks of those items missing, the first aid squad concluded that the supplies were stolen.
The first aid squad contacted Lowe’s, which advised the squad that some of the supplies had been returned for a cash refund in the amount of $161.58. The state police reviewed Lowe’s security tapes and identified Yaeger as the person who had returned the items and kept the cash, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Further investigation revealed that Yaeger had taken several other supplies and pawned them off for cash. Yaeger later admitted to stealing these items over a period of months.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said, “There can be no excuse for a person holding public office to abuse his authority and position. This first aid volunteer took advantage of the trust that was bestowed upon him and stole $2,500 worth of supplies from the volunteer squad. The Farmingdale-Howell community is the true victim of this theft. This plea will appropriately forever disqualify Mr. Yaeger from holding any position of public trust.”