SUMNER— Former town employees and married couple Robert Stewart, 68, and Kelly Stewart, 57, were arrested and released Friday, according to a town official.
Mary Ann Haxton, chair of the Sumner Board of Selectmen, said the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office made the arrests.
The Stewarts were released on $500 cash bail the same day according to a dispatcher who also provided the couple’s identities and dates of birth. The sheriff’s office did not return calls or emails.
According to information obtained by the Bangor Daily News, the Stewarts were each charged with a count of theft by unauthorized taking, a felony. The nature and dollar amount of the alleged theft was not clear. Robert Stewart worked for the fire department for 25 years, including 18 years as chief, and Kelly Stewart was a selectman and secretary for the fire department.
The Stewarts’ arrests came after weeks of speculation following the former fire chief’s April 25 resignation. Kelly Stewart resigned from her post as the department’s secretary at the same time.
Town officials shared concern over possible misappropriated fire department funds and equipment with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office. On May 2, town officials hired an investigator, Matt Tarasevich, from Portland-based Bernstein Shur law firm to look into the matter, according to meeting minutes.
Tarasevich’s findings were revealed in a July 19 executive session and Kelly Stewart resigned her post as selectman shortly before a July 25 meeting. Haxton reported that Kelly Stewart “failed her duties to the town as a select board member” according to the findings, and if she had not resigned, the board would have elected to censure her.
Robert Stewart said during the April 25 meeting he was resigning because “he is tired of feeling like the bad guy.” Stewart said he occasionally passed out items purchased by Admiral Fire Safety to fire department and town office personnel as protection from “crazy people,” but has never stolen or hidden equipment, according to meeting minutes.
Multiple calls and emails to Oxford Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy James Urquhart were not returned by press time.
Press Herald Staff Writer Bonnie Washuk and Sun Journal Staff Writer Joe Charpentier contributed to this report.
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