A Fairbanks Grand Jury has indicted 62-year-old Michael Paschall on two counts of Theft in the First Degree and one count each of Scheme to Defraud, Felony Misapplication of Property, Falsifying Business Records, and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
The Dec. 19 indictment stems from allegations that while in the role of chief/secretary of the Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire Department, Paschall stole more than $400,000 over several years from the Fire Department’s bank account.
Paschall is a former legislative aide to then-Rep. Eric Feige.
Last January, the volunteer fire department in the greater Delta Junction had to shut down operations when it was unable to pay for insurance due to an unexpected budget shortfall. Although suspicions began in 2023, it wasn’t until January that the board of directors became convinced of the alleged thefts, which had been hidden from the board by falsified business records, which Paschall controlled as secretary to the board.
Paschall was separated from the department and left Alaska, taking the fire department’s laptop with him.
The Alaska State Troopers’ Financial Crimes Unit took on the case, which is now being prosecuted by the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions.
The court has issued an arrest warrant in the amount of $250,000 with a requirement that Paschall obtain a court-approved third-party custodian.
Also, Superior Court Judge Thomas I. Temple issued a summons, requiring Paschall to appear or call in for his arraignment in Fairbanks on Jan. 8, at 1:30 p.m. No monetary bond was set and it’s not clear where Paschall is located.
Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire Department volunteers has two stations, one in the Clearwater area and one in Big Delta.
The fire department has mutual aid agreements with Delta Junction, Fort Greely, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company at Pump Station 9, and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry in Delta.
