(The Center Square) – The former Henderson County volunteer fire chief was indicted for theft, evidence tampering or fabrication and forgery after an investigation from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.
Daylon McPeake was removed from his post Oct. 19 after being accused of misappropriating funds.
Comptrollers’ office investigators determined McPeake misappropriated more than $19,000 from January 2021 to October 2023.
To do so, he is accusing of cashing $6,832.41 in checks written to cash and himself with much of it going to his personal bank account. He also is accused of making $11,300 in unauthorized withdrawals along with purchasing three helmets worth $945 without authorization.
McPeake then verbally reported an inflated bank account balance to volunteer fire department members of $29,500 when the balance was actually $14,000.
“Our investigators found a number of financial management deficiencies within this department,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “In addition to one person having exclusive control over the department’s bank accounts, the department also failed to reconcile and maintain its accounting records; it did not require prenumbered checks and dual signatures on checks; and it did not require receipts to be issued for all collections.”
McPeake is also accused of creating fabricated invoices and forging a signature on a station check.