Embezzlement

A man accused of stealing $250,000 from a land development company that he and a sheriff's deputy owned was indicted Thursday on embezzlement and fraud charges by a Berkeley County grand jury. George H. Van Wagner, 59, of P.O. Box 867 in Martinsburg, was indicted on one count of felony embezzlement and four counts of fraudulent schemes, according to an indictment released by Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely's office. Van Wagner, while acting as an agent of Topaz LLC, is accused of stealing the money from the company, a venture that he and Sheriff's Deputy Steven A. Crites formed in 2006, according to the indictment and the West Virginia Secretary of State's office.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- A 23rd Judicial Circuit judge said in Berkeley County Monday that once final details are worked out, he would accept a plea agreement in a case involving a former South Berkeley Little League team's manager charged with embezzling more than $9,000 on the league's credit card. Judge Gray Silver III continued the hearing until May 11 at 9 a.m. Larry Anthony Custer, 45, of Bryarly Mill Lane, Inwood, W.Va., pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of embezzlement.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- The manager of the 2007 state champion South Berkeley Little League team agreed Monday to enter a guilty plea to one felony count of embezzlement, a charge that stemmed from allegations that he used the nonprofit organization's credit card fraudulently. Larry Anthony Custer, 45, of Bryarly Mill Lane, Inwood, W.Va., would be placed on probation for five years and pay about $9,000 in restitution if 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Gray Silver III accepts a plea agreement reached between Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Jean Games-Neely, Custer and his attorney, William DeHaven.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Glenn Edward Stanley, the former interim director of the Martinsburg Boys & Girls Club, appeared in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on embezzlement charges, but the case was postponed so an attorney can be appointed to represent him. Magistrate Joan Bragg refused Stanley's request for reduced bail. He is being held on $25,000 bail at the Eastern Regional Jail. Stanley, 37, of Winchester Avenue in Martinsburg, is charged with forging the signature of Mark Sutton, vice president of the Boys & Girls Club's board of directors, on two checks.

kimy@herald-mail.com A Halfway woman employed as an office manager at a Hagerstown church was charged last week with embezzling more than $8,000 from the church and from a Boy Scout troop affiliated with the church. Melissa Renee DeHaven, 33, of 10825 Lincoln Ave., was served a criminal summons charging her with two counts each of embezzlement and theft scheme over $500. Maryland State Police Trooper 1st Class Michael Kretzer said he was contacted by the Rev. David F. Schlicher, pastor of the Church of the Holy Trinity at 17805 Oak Ridge Drive, who said he thought church funds were being misappropriated.

An Inwood, W.Va., woman has been charged with embezzling more than $400,000 from Potomac Case Management Services Inc. between July 2000 and August 2006, according to charging documents. Kelley Boyd Macher, 45, of 79 Minnick Road, is charged with three counts of felony theft scheme and embezzlement, according to the documents. According to court records, Macher is to go to trial on the charges Feb. 14 in Washington County District Court. Each of the felony theft scheme counts carry maximum sentences of 15 years, and the embezzlement count carries a maximum sentence of five years if convicted.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A man accused of embezzling more than $14,000 from the American Red Cross Berkeley County chapter while he was leading the organization renewed his request for a court-appointed attorney after his application was initially denied. Appearing before Magistrate Sandra L. Miller on Tuesday, Jonathon A. Jarrell of 519 West Virginia Ave., Martinsburg, told Miller he wished to reapply for legal counsel and agreed to waive his right to a speedy hearing. Jarrell, 42, was arraigned April 6 on one felony count of embezzlement, which was filed against him by West Virginia State Police Trooper J.M. Walker, according to court records.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. ? The former executive director of the Berkeley County chapter of the American Red Cross has been accused of stealing more than $14,000 from the organization, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records. Jonathon A. Jarrell, 42, of 519 West Virginia Ave. in Martinsburg, was arraigned Friday on one felony count of embezzlement, which was filed against him by West Virginia State Police Trooper J.M. Walker, according to court records. Walker said Friday the matter still was under investigation after Magistrate Joan V. Bragg earlier set a $10,000 personal recognizance bond in an arraignment hearing for Jarrell.