OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The former Gillett mayor made an initial appearance Monday on charges he stole more than $125,000 from his former employer.
James Beaton faces 13 theft charges for allegedly embezzling from Legacy Funeral Home. A $10,000 cash bond was ordered, which he posted the bond later Monday, court records show.
Charges were filed last week. An initial appearance was held Monday. Court records do not list a preliminary hearing date.
There are no allegations he stole from taxpayers, although some of the thefts allegedly happened while he was mayor.
Beaton allegedly sold a vehicle without the funeral home’s consent, issued checks to himself, obtained convenience store credit cards for him and his family for personal use, and used credit cards for personal use.
The complaint charges one count of theft for allegedly selling the hearse, plus one count of in a business setting for each of 12 different time periods:
9/14/17 to 10/31/17 – $12,967.73
11/15/17 to 2/27/18 – $10, 925.56
3/2/18 to 4/2/18 – $14,500.00
4/3/18 to 6/5/18 – $11,256.55
6/5/18 to 7/2/18 – $12,449.97
7/10/18 to 9/27/18 – $15,759.10
9/28/18 to 11/2/18 – $12,180.15
11/19/18 to 3/25/19 – $10, 868.75
3/29/19 to 5/6/19 – $12,665.18
5/17/19 to 8/26/19 – $11,279.55
8/26/19 to 9/3/19 – $7,374.94
