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September 8, 2008

Ex-official faces 5 felony charges

By Donna Hales

Five felony charges and two misdemeanor charges were filed Monday against former Fort Gibson Utilities Supervisor Christopher Neal Gauntt.

A filing in Muskogee County District Court accuses Gauntt, 36, of committing the alleged crimes from November 2007 through July 15, 2008.

They include three felony embezzlement charges involving a $1,200 laptop computer, a John Deere power washer valued at $999 and an air compressor valued in excess of $500. Gauntt is charged with two felony counts of false declaration of ownership. One was to Cash America Pawn and involved a Dell laptop computer, and the other was to EZ Pawn and involved a Stihl pole saw.

The misdemeanor embezzlement charges were for allegedly taking a Stihl pole saw valued at $300 and the other for allegedly taking scrap metal valued at $300.

Fort Gibson Police Chief Joe Hughart said last week that Gauntt had given a written statement admitting to the theft of the items he is charged with embezzling and pawning.

The city began an investigation following a tip that Gauntt may have pawned city property.

The town has recovered the power washer, but not the pole saw and the computer, said Town Administrator Kathryn Carson.

Gauntt officially resigned Aug. 11. The board of trustees named Larry Dale Cooper as the new utilities supervisor on Aug. 25.

Gauntt is free on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to be back in court Sept. 22 hearing, at which time a preliminary hearing date will be scheduled.

Reach Donna Hales at 918-684-2923 or Click Here to Send Email

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