Hearing Continued for Baldwin Fire Officials Accused of Embezzlement

The preliminary hearing for the former fire chief and deputy fire chief at Becks Run Volunteer Fire Department in north Baldwin Borough was continued Monday.

The hearing was rescheduled for 9 a.m. on Nov. 16 in front of district Judge Robert Wyda, the magistrate for Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park. The magistrate for Baldwin recused himself from the case.

Leonard "Len" Novak and Stephen Bonetti, chief and deputy chief, respectively, were charged in August with misusing approximately $25,000 from the Pennsylvania firemen's relief fund over an approximately five-year period.

Novak is charged with two counts of theft by deception; one count of receiving stolen property; two counts of unlawful use of a computer; one count of criminal conspiracy; two counts of forgery; one count of theft by deception; three counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence; two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds; and three counts of tampering with records or identification.

Bonetti is charged with two counts of theft by deception; one count of criminal conspiracy; one count of misapplication of entrusted property and property of a government institution; two counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence; and one count of obstructing administration of law or other government function.

Stay with Patch for continuing coverage of this case.