CBS5
A former acting fire chief for Hayden accused of theft and trafficking in stolen property was sworn in as the community’s mayor late Monday afternoon.
Charles Vega, 37, was elected mayor in March. Just a month earlier, he had been arrested by Pinal County sheriff’s deputies after a string of events that included allegedly taking money from a fundraising dance for the Hayden Volunteer Fire Department and chainsaws meant for the Asarco Mine in Kearney.
Vega was removed as the fire chief and is a former worker at the Asarco Mine.
Hayden police told Pinal County investigators in December they believed the $850 taken from the volunteer fire department fundraiser was done by a town employee.
At the same time, Gila County sheriff’s deputies were investigating the theft of property, including four chainsaws valued at $1,120 each, from the mine.
Deputies said the chainsaws were ordered at the mine and had been delivered to a mine warehouse. It was later learned the saws were delivered to Vega, deputies said.
