stm4710
07-27-2005, 12:48 PM
Paramedic arraigned on eight felonies
Jo C. Goode, Staff Writer07/27/2005
CUMBERLAND -- A local paramedic accused of stealing town property and selling it over the Internet pleaded not guilty to 11 criminal charges in Providence Superior Court on Monday.
Lt. Thomas Heaney Jr., 40, of 758 Mendon Road was arraigned on eight felony counts of wrongful conversion by a municipal employee over $100, and three misdemeanor counts of wrongful conversion by a municipal employee under $100, according to Beryl Kenyon, spokesperson for the state Attorney General’s office.
Associate Justice William J. McAtee set bail at $1,000 personal recognizance, Kenyon said. A pre-trial conference is set for Sept. 26.
Heaney continues to receive his full salary and benefits from the town since his arrest in May. The paramedic was on injury on duty (IOD) leave about 8 months before being charged by Rhode Island State Police, and he remains under that status.
Neither Mayor David Iwuc nor town Solicitor Becki Abilheira could be reached for comment regarding Heaney’s employment with the town.
Acting Rescue Service Director Gregg Noury and Human Resource Director Kathleen Stoddart both declined to comment.
Heaney was the target of a four-month long undercover Internet investigation by state police detectives before his arrest.
State police detectives tracked Heaney’s computer activity after receiving a tip in January that the 18-year rescue service veteran was selling the town’s emergency equipment on eBay, an online auction site.
During the investigation, state police detectives discovered that Heaney was using the screen name "RIMEDIC62" and offering an array of emergency and medical equipment for auction, from extrication devices to a defibrillators reportedly valued at $6,000. They were able to verify the eBay account belonged to Heaney.
State police would make several bids and winning one for the traction splint for $132. Heaney allegedly directed the "bidder" to send the payment to his Mendon Road address.
When state police received the equipment from Heaney, they said it was marked as property belonging to North Cumberland Fire Department where Heaney was a volunteer fireman.
Detectives were able to recover some of the equipment Heaney allegedly stole, but were unable to locate other items like the defibrillator. State police reported that it was sold to an unidentified person in Mexico for $355.02.
Heaney was originally charged with one count of unlawful conversion, but the charges mounted after the case was transferred from district court to superior court.
If the paramedic is convicted of the felony charges, he could face some stiff penalties of up to $50,000 or three times the value of the property stolen, whichever is greater. State sentencing guidelines also include up to 20 years imprison.
Jo C. Goode, Staff Writer07/27/2005
CUMBERLAND -- A local paramedic accused of stealing town property and selling it over the Internet pleaded not guilty to 11 criminal charges in Providence Superior Court on Monday.
Lt. Thomas Heaney Jr., 40, of 758 Mendon Road was arraigned on eight felony counts of wrongful conversion by a municipal employee over $100, and three misdemeanor counts of wrongful conversion by a municipal employee under $100, according to Beryl Kenyon, spokesperson for the state Attorney General’s office.
Associate Justice William J. McAtee set bail at $1,000 personal recognizance, Kenyon said. A pre-trial conference is set for Sept. 26.
Heaney continues to receive his full salary and benefits from the town since his arrest in May. The paramedic was on injury on duty (IOD) leave about 8 months before being charged by Rhode Island State Police, and he remains under that status.
Neither Mayor David Iwuc nor town Solicitor Becki Abilheira could be reached for comment regarding Heaney’s employment with the town.
Acting Rescue Service Director Gregg Noury and Human Resource Director Kathleen Stoddart both declined to comment.
Heaney was the target of a four-month long undercover Internet investigation by state police detectives before his arrest.
State police detectives tracked Heaney’s computer activity after receiving a tip in January that the 18-year rescue service veteran was selling the town’s emergency equipment on eBay, an online auction site.
During the investigation, state police detectives discovered that Heaney was using the screen name "RIMEDIC62" and offering an array of emergency and medical equipment for auction, from extrication devices to a defibrillators reportedly valued at $6,000. They were able to verify the eBay account belonged to Heaney.
State police would make several bids and winning one for the traction splint for $132. Heaney allegedly directed the "bidder" to send the payment to his Mendon Road address.
When state police received the equipment from Heaney, they said it was marked as property belonging to North Cumberland Fire Department where Heaney was a volunteer fireman.
Detectives were able to recover some of the equipment Heaney allegedly stole, but were unable to locate other items like the defibrillator. State police reported that it was sold to an unidentified person in Mexico for $355.02.
Heaney was originally charged with one count of unlawful conversion, but the charges mounted after the case was transferred from district court to superior court.
If the paramedic is convicted of the felony charges, he could face some stiff penalties of up to $50,000 or three times the value of the property stolen, whichever is greater. State sentencing guidelines also include up to 20 years imprison.