Former Lakewood Fire Chief Christopher Thomson escapes prison time despite embezzling over $111,000 from community donations intended for firefighters, receiving probation and conditional jail time instead.
Key Takeaways
- Former Fire Chief Christopher Thomson embezzled $111,327.49 through 231 unauthorized transactions while serving as treasurer of the Lakewood Fire Department Association.
- Judge Michael Judge sentenced Thomson to six years probation with one year conditional jail time, prioritizing restitution over immediate imprisonment.
- Thomson must repay $128,339.49 in restitution, but has not returned any stolen money as of November 2024.
- If Thomson violates probation terms or fails to make payments, he faces a four-year prison sentence.
- Current Fire Chief Eric Johnson believes Thomson may have stolen even more than reported, directly taking funds “straight off the coffers” during fundraising events.
Another Public Servant Betrays Community Trust
Former Lakewood Fire Chief Christopher Thomson will serve one year in county jail after pleading no contest to seven criminal counts including identity theft, forgery, and theft in a business setting. The charges stem from his systematic embezzlement of nonprofit funds while serving as treasurer of the Lakewood Fire Department Association from 2020 to 2024. Thomson diverted over $111,000 in community donations and fundraising proceeds for personal expenses, including his cell phone and vehicle payments, while falsifying financial reports to conceal his actions.
The case highlights the persistent problem of public servants exploiting positions of trust for personal gain. Thomson’s theft wasn’t a momentary lapse but a calculated, multi-year criminal enterprise involving falsified records, forged signatures, and deliberate deception of the volunteer firefighters and community members who trusted him. When initially confronted, he admitted to taking only $5,000, then $20,000, but investigations revealed the true figure exceeded $111,000 through hundreds of unauthorized transactions.
Judge’s Dilemma: Punishment vs. Restitution
Oconto County Circuit Court Judge Michael Judge struggled with the sentencing decision, acknowledging that Thomson’s actions warranted prison time but ultimately prioritizing financial restitution to the fire department association. Despite expressing that “this man should go to prison,” the judge opted for a probation-centered sentence with conditional jail time, noting that imprisonment would prevent Thomson from beginning to repay what he stole.
“This man should go to prison. If I send him to prison, there’s no acceptance of accountability or responsibility to at least begin some payments to the association. Therefore, reluctantly, this court will find that probation would not depreciate the offenses that occurred over hundreds of times,” said Judge Michael Oconto County Circuit Court.
The sentence includes six years of probation with conditional jail time and a stayed prison sentence of four years that would be imposed if Thomson violates probation terms. He must also pay $128,339.49 in restitution to the association and is permanently prohibited from holding any position involving bookkeeping responsibilities. As of November 2024, Thomson had not returned any stolen money or financial documents to the department.
Damage to Community Trust
Current Lakewood Fire Chief Eric Johnson expressed concern that Thomson’s embezzlement may have been more extensive than documented. Financial investigations revealed that Thomson falsified reports for three consecutive years, concealing his systematic diversion of funds that increased each year: approximately $18,875 in 2021, $25,557 in 2022, and $39,266 in 2023. These ever-increasing amounts suggest a perpetrator growing more emboldened with each successful theft.
“I worked right alongside him to raise money, sole purpose for serving the community, for our fire department, and what he reported as being actual is far less than what was raised. Allegedly probably took funds straight off the coffers,” said Eric Johnson, current Lakewood Fire Chief.
Prosecutors highlighted the calculated nature of Thomson’s crimes, noting that the theft occurred through hundreds of transactions over years, not a single momentary lapse. The criminal complaint documented Thomson’s efforts to prevent reporting to law enforcement when initially confronted, and described how he “engaged in approximately 231 transactions utilizing that association’s Laona State Bank checking account business checks and account identifying information…to convert $111,327.49 of association funds, collected through community donation and fundraising, to his own use.”
Thomson’s Excuses Ring Hollow
In court, Thomson attempted to minimize his actions by claiming financial hardship drove him to steal from the nonprofit. He told the judge he used the money to “pay bills and support his family” rather than asking relatives for financial assistance. This excuse fails to acknowledge the extended timeframe and escalating nature of his theft, which suggests premeditation rather than desperation.
“I wish I would have just asked my family for help instead. I was too embarrassed to ask for help, and this is why I’m here today,” said Christopher Thomson, former Lakewood Fire Chief.
The case represents another example of the two-tiered justice system that often allows government officials and public servants to avoid the severe punishments that would befall ordinary citizens for similar crimes. While Thomson faces conditional jail time and probation, many Americans rightfully question whether someone who stole over $111,000 from a private business through 231 fraudulent transactions over several years would receive such leniency. The volunteer firefighters and community members who trusted Thomson must now rebuild both their finances and the public’s confidence in their department.
