Ex-club treasurer faces theft charge

KINGSTON — A former treasurer for a hunting club in Wyoming County was charged Tuesday with stealing more than $38,000.

Kingston police arrested Robert Lee Morgan Jr., 46, of Huntsville Road, Dallas, on charges he swindled funds from the Old Hickory Hunting Club in Laceyville from October 2007 to November 2010.

Morgan was arraigned by District Judge Paul Roberts on two counts of felony theft. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Hunting club president Carl D. Sheply did not return a message for comment.

Police began their investigation nearly two years ago when Sheply notified police about missing funds.

The U.S. Secret Service assisted police in the probe.

According to the criminal complaint:

The hunting club opened a line of credit in the amount of $30,000 in June 2007 to build a new cabin.

Sheply instructed Morgan, as the club’s treasurer, to close the line of credit when he believed the loan was paid in full in April 2008.

Sheply learned there was an outstanding balance and the line of credit was never closed.

Sheply informed police that Morgan was the only person who had access to the line of credit and the club’s checking accounts.

Police allege in the complaint Morgan made 33 unauthorized transactions from the hunting club’s two accounts.

Morgan’s personal and business bank records that were seized allegedly showed deposits were made into Morgan Corp. Electrical Services at or near the time of the unauthorized transactions from the hunting club accounts, according to the complaint.

Police allege 29 of the 33 unauthorized transactions were deposits into Morgan Corp. accounts.

A breakdown of the hunting club’s accounts showed Morgan stole $24,331 from the line of credit and $14,484 from the checking account, the complaint alleges.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled on March 20.