Fire chief accused of stealing cable
The recently hired fire chief for Barrow County has been arrested for allegedly stealing cable television.
Donald Towne, 40, is one of five accused of theft following a 7-month investigation, according to the GBI. The investigation centered around finance records in the southwest Georgia city of Cairo, where Towne previously worked, the GBI said.
All five were arrested on Thursday, according to the GBI.
Towne's wife, Tiffany Fowler, 30, was also arrested and charged with five counts of theft by taking and five counts of computer theft. Investigators believe Fowler used her position with the city government to obtain cable television service for five people without paying for it, according to reports.
Others arrested include: James Whigham, 68, charged with two counts of theft by taking; Christine Tuning, 30, of Tallahassee, Fla, who was charged with one count of theft by taking and one count of false statements; and Allan Womble, 29, who was charged with one count of theft by taking.
Barrow County commissioners voted May 25 to offer the job to Towne, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. He agreed to a salary of $63,000 a year.
The investigation into the thefts continues, the GBI said.
Towne, who previously served in the Coast Guard, began his fire service career in 1986, according to his biography on the Barrow County fire Web site.
