YORK, Maine — A local man was indicted on theft by misapplication charges out of New Hampshire recently after allegedly stealing money raised for a charitable organization, officials said.
Jason Parent, 42, of York is facing a charge of theft by misapplication, a felony, along with a misdemeanor count of theft by misapplication of property, according to David Rienzo, assistant attorney general for New Hampshire.
Parent has not been arrested but is required to appear at an upcoming arraignment, Rienzo said. That date has not been set, to Rienzo’s knowledge, and an arrest warrant for Parent would be issued if he does not show up to court.
Parent was the owner of the Meat House butchery chain, of which many stores closed in February 2014.
In July 2013, the company held an annual fundraiser for the Chaplain’s Emergency Relief Fund charity, which provides assistance to veterans, an event Rienzo said had taken place over the last several years.
More than $1,500 that was raised was not turned in to the charity, according to Rienzo.
“The victims are not just the charity but the members of the public who donated their money with the expectations that it was going to the charity,” Rienzo said. “That’s kind of the added issue with this matter that I think makes it important to us.”
